Deerfield High School Graduation Information

Ceremony Date and Time:

The Deerfield High School Graduation Commencement takes place on Tuesday, May 21 at Ravinia Festival in Highland Park.

The ceremony starts promptly at 5:00 pm.

The Ravinia property gates will open at 3:30 pm.

Our ceremonies have averaged 90 minutes in length.  Families planning an event after the ceremony should plan to exit the property (after graduates are available after the recessional) around 7:00 pm.

Ticket Information:

Each graduate will automatically receive seven tickets (four per student if twins) to the ceremony.  They, themselves, will not need their own ticket.  Graduates receive their tickets at the graduation rehearsal earlier that morning.

Tickets allow for entry into the Ravinia property.  All seating is general admission;  tickets do not indicate a specific seat.

Accessibility Accommodations:

Handicapped parking uses Ravinia’s north lot located at Lambert Tree Avenue and Sheridan/Lincolnwood Road. 

Use this simple form to request accessible parking and/or seating:

Link to Handicapped Parking and Seating Form

Upon completing the simple form,  we will create a pass that you or your graduate can pickup from the front office (Ms. Bettie Liberles) after May 7.  This pass must be shown at the gate to that lot for access.

Handicapped seating utilizes the box seats at the Ravinia pavilion.  Use the same form to request a pass to access seating in these locations.  Please know that the boxes can not accommodate more than a few family members to accompany the individual who requests this seat.  Know also that passes for handicapped seating are used in conjunction with a ticket to the ceremony.  As with the parking pass, these passes will be made available for pickup in the front office from Ms. Liberles after May 7.  If you have any questions regarding parking or seating, please email her at bliberles@dist113.org.  

Graduate Information:

We hold a required graduation rehearsal on the morning of the ceremony itself.  You should plan to arrive at Ravinia by 9:00 am on Tuesday, May 21.  Plan on the rehearsal to last approximately two and a half hours.  There, you will receive your cap and gown, learn where you will line up prior to the ceremony, how you will receive your diploma, and how to march back out at the conclusion of the event.

You will also receive your tickets at this time.  We hand them to you when you practice receiving your diploma on stage and the Marshals practice reading aloud your names.

Graduates receiving honors (i.e., Valedictorian, Salutatorian, Deerfield Scholars) are also announced for the first time at our rehearsal. 

For these reasons, it is important that all graduates planning to march at the ceremony attend the rehearsal that morning.  Please contact Assistant Principal Ken Williams or Assistant Principal Lilly Brandt if you will not be able to attend.

Graduates should plan to arrive to Ravinia by 4:00 pm that afternoon.  We will direct everyone to prepare for the processional (march in) for the ceremony at 4:45 pm. Again, we start the ceremony at 5:00 sharp.

The Ravinia pavilion is roofed and allows us to still hold our ceremony in inclement weather.  We will have special lineup plans to keep you dry should the forecast look poor for that evening.

Our tradition is that you all line up, march, sit, and approach the stage for diplomas in the Homerooms you have held for the past four years.  Your Homeroom teachers will sit with you, and the entire faculty will be present as well to share in this celebration.  We’re all there to help you know exactly where to go and what to do.  There’s nothing all that difficult, but, again, the rehearsal is where you will learn all of these parts.

We are excited to share in this milestone with you and equally excited to celebrate the Class of 2024.  Please contact either of us if you have any questions,

Sincerely,

Ken Williams, Assistant Principal

kwilliams@dist113.org

Lilly Brandt, Ph.D., Assistant Principal

lbrandt@dist113.org