Dear West Ada Families,
We are pleased to announce the graduation dates for the Class of 2025 well in advance this year. In past years, when hosting graduation at ExtraMile Arena in partnership with Boise State University, we were only able to confirm dates in December, just a few months prior to the commencement ceremony. We understand how challenging this was for planning such an important event.
This year, we are excited to inform you of some significant changes that will benefit our students, families, and guests. Graduation for the Class of 2025 will take place at Idaho Central Arena in downtown Boise. This change allows us to provide you with graduation dates well ahead of time, offering ample opportunity to make necessary arrangements. Additionally, the decision to move venues comes with substantial savings for our district and our taxpayers.
Important Details for Families:
This year, there are a few new important details that will affect families:
Graduation on Weekdays: To accommodate our students' participation in extracurricular activities and IHSAA tournaments on the weekend, all graduation ceremonies will now be held on weekdays. We recognize this may be a change for many families, but we hope this adjustment allows for greater participation in these important activities.
Timing of Ceremonies: The times of 4:00 PM and 7:30 PM have been carefully selected in collaboration with Idaho Central Arena. These times ensure that our staff can arrive at the ceremonies should they wish to attend, and allow ample time between ceremonies to clean and prepare the arena for the following commencement. We understand this may require some adjustments to your personal schedules, and we sincerely apologize for any conflicts this may cause. We hope you can make arrangements well in advance to attend.
Ticket Allocation: Each graduate will receive seven (7) tickets for graduation. These tickets will be available in Spring 2025 and be distributed to students through their school counselors when they receive their honors cords and other graduation materials. Please note that tickets are non-replaceable, so ensure they are kept in a safe place prior to the commencement ceremony.
Additional Tickets: For families larger than seven (7), school bookkeepers will manage a waitlist for those wishing to secure additional tickets. This waitlist will open on November 1 after suites have been assigned (see next bullet).
Idaho Central Arena Suites: For our larger families, we have also secured suites at Idaho Central Arena, each accommodating twelve (12) guests. Suites will be available for request through an electronic form beginning October 1, with the form closing on October 11. Applications for each school site will be entered into an electronic random number generator, and suite recipients will be announced at the October 28th board meeting, which is livestreamed. Families will be notified on October 1st once the form is open.
For more information on Idaho Central Arena, please visit: Idaho Central Arena.
Hotel Accommodations: For families with guests traveling from out of town, we are pleased to offer a 15% discount, their best available rate, in collaboration with the Grove Hotel and Block 22 Hotels. This discount is available now for booking at this rate by visiting the following link: Hotel Discount Booking.
Graduation Ceremony Dates and Times:
Monday, May 19, 2025
Renaissance High School: 4:00 PM
Mountain View High School: 7:30 PM
Tuesday, May 20, 2025
Rocky Mountain High School: 4:00 PM
Eagle High School: 7:30 PM
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
Centennial High School: 4:00 PM
Meridian High School: 7:30 PM
Thursday, May 22, 2025
Owyhee High School: 4:00 PM
Alternative Schools (Rebound, Central Academy, Eagle Academy, Meridian Academy, and Virtual School House): 7:30 PM
Friday, May 23, 2025
Idaho Fine Arts Academy: 4:30 PM at the Centennial High School Performing Arts Center (CPAC)
Please note that the Idaho Fine Arts Academy (IFAA) was given the option to participate in a joint commencement ceremony with Renaissance High School at Idaho Central Arena to share in the celebration and the associated costs. However, IFAA has elected to continue their tradition of holding their ceremony at the CPAC.
We are excited to partner with Idaho Central Arena and their staff, and we look forward to celebrating your graduate this coming May.
Sincerely,
West Ada School District Communications
