2026 Plano East Senior High School Graduation Ceremony

• Approved Cords and Saches:
  • Gold GPA Cord for those who attain a 3.6 cumulative GPA.
  • Silver-AP Cord for those who take four AP courses and the exams that go with those courses.
  • White-CCMR Cord
  • IB-stole-achieving IB diploma candidate status
  • Health Science Red Cord-earned for completion of the Health and Science program
  • NHS Stole- those that have successfully maintained status as an NHS member
  • AVID Cord
  • National Art Honor Society Cord
  • ASL Cord
  • JROTC/ Enlisted 
  • Spanish Honor Society
  • Journalism Honor Society
  • Debate Honor Society
  • No other additional items will be allowed to be worn at the graduation ceremony.

Handicap seating is available throughout the main seating level of the stadium. Persons with disabilities may be accompanied by one companion. (Both must have tickets.) Ford Center is designed with accessible parking, accessible vehicle drop-off and pick-up areas, power assisted doors, restrooms, concessions, water fountains and seating areas. Guests can receive more information by visiting the Guest Services Center located on the concourse behind Section 127.

Gold/ GPA cords for those who have attained a 3.6 cumulative GPA for their high school career.  Silver/ AP Cords for those who have taken 4 AP exams and CCMR (White), those who meet CCMR requirements.

These three cords can be picked up in the cafeteria during lunch on the following days, according to your alpha.  Due to possible long lines, students who are not assigned to that day will not be able to pick up their cords.

Alpha (A-D) / Beta (E-La )- May 4-A & B- lunch
Gamma (Le-Ra ) / Delta (Re-Z )- May 5- A & B lunch
Make-up day for all Alphas- May 6

To find a list of the white, gold, and silver cords, please click this link.  You must be logged into your PISD account.

No cords will be given out at graduation.  Cords must be picked up prior.

NHS stole will be given out during the same timelines and follow the same Alpha schedule as above.

Diplomas - Actual diplomas will not be given during the ceremony.  Graduates are encouraged to pick up their diplomas at Plano East on June 2nd at the following times:

9:00 am – 10:30 am                   

1:30 pm – 3:00 pm      

All pick-ups will take place in the cafeteria.  

Diplomas will not be mailed. Each graduate must pick up his/her own diploma and must show a photo ID.  For security and privacy reasons, diplomas will not be given to parents or friends.  Graduates may also pick up their diplomas in the Registrar’s Office during regular business hours any day after June 2nd. 

For information about Senior Receptions with the elementary schools they attended, please click here.

It is time to order your Final Transcripts!

You must request your final transcript on SCHOOLINKS if you plan to do the following:

Attend a University or Community College in the Fall of 2026.

Attend Collin College in the Summer of 2026.

NCAA /Eligibility Center for students participating in College Athletics.

DO NOT email us to Request Transcripts or use QR code.

All final transcript requests must be requested in SCHOOLINKS after May 15th. 

All transcript requests made after May 18th in SchooLinks will be considered Final Transcript Requests.

***ALL TRANSCRIPTS WILL BE SENT AFTER GRADUATION***

***NO EXCEPTIONS***

The Ford Center's prohibited bags include, but are not limited to, the following: all purses, bags or containers larger than a small clutch bag, coolers, briefcases, backpacks, fanny packs, cinch bags, luggage of any kind, computer bags and camera bags.

We strongly encourage fans to limit the number of items they bring with them to the stadium on event day.

Visitors may carry only the following style and size bag, package or container at the plaza areas, gates or when approaching queue lines of fans awaiting entry into Ford Center:

• Approved bags that are clear plastic, vinyl or PVC and do not exceed 12” x 6” x 12.” The bags may be hand-carried or have a shoulder strap. Clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bags in accordance with the size set forth above with a high school logo are also acceptable).
• One-gallon clear plastic freezer bag (Ziploc bag or similar).
• Small, one compartment, clutch bag approximately the size of a hand, with or without a handle or strap. No larger than 4.5 x 6.5.” This can be carried separately or within a plastic bag.

An exception will be made for medically necessary items after proper inspection at a gate designated for this purpose. For more details, please visit the venue's website. 

To respect and honor all graduating seniors and their families, please review these policies. Ford Center and the Plano Independent School District may refuse admission to (or may expel) patrons for disruptive or disorderly conduct

Prohibited Items

Persons found with these items will be escorted from the venue.

• Noisemakers and air horns
• Balloons
• Silly string/Confetti
• Lighters
• Matches
• Laser pointers
• Weapons
• Backpacks
• Purses and bags larger than a small clutch
• Outside food and drinks
• Tobacco products
• Large flower arrangements
• Signs
• Large banners
• Tripods
• Professional cameras.

Each senior will be picking up a graduation color-coded seating card that will have your line, row and seat number located on this card.  This will be picked up when they get their graduation tickets.  Seniors need to complete the back of the card and bring it to graduation.  This card is your ticket in and is the card that the announcers will read when crossing the stage.

Senior Luncheon

The senior luncheon for this year's senior class will be on May 11th during both lunches. Please make sure you are in attendance at your assigned lunch. We will have administrators checking student ids to gain entrance to the gym.

Graduation Meeting Schedule:

All seniors are required to attend a graduation meeting.  The meetings will take place on May 21st in the Auditorium. We will be providing three different times seniors are allowed to come:

9:00-10:00
11:00-12:00
2:00-3:00

Students who are exempted from their 5th or 6th period exam are allowed to go and sign in for attendance purposes and then report to the auditorium for the meeting.

• For seniors to participate in the Plano East graduation ceremony, all students are required to meet dress requirements established by PISD board, central administration, and Plano East.
• Dress for graduation is business casual.
• Plano East black cap and gown with black and gold tassel are required for participation in the graduation ceremony. This gown must have the gold band on the sleeve and the Panther Monogramed on it. All other gowns will not be allowed. 
• All graduation Regalia is ordered through Jostens.  You can make these orders at this link.  Any order at this time will incur an individual shipping charge, and orders will be delivered directly to your home.  Orders within the last week before graduation will most likely be taken to the graduation event for pickup then.If you have questions, please call the office at 214-383-9502. Jostens Flyers that was sent home.
• Students must be properly attired to participate in the graduation ceremony.
  • No decorations on caps!
  • Tassels start on the right. 
  • Girls are expected to wear dresses or slacks and shirts with appropriate shoes.  
  • Guys are expected to wear slacks, a collared shirt, a tie (optional), and appropriate closed-toed shoes and socks. 
  • Beach sandals or flip flops are not allowed. 
  • Sunglasses are not allowed and cannot be worn on stage.
  • Purses:
    • Small purses the size of your hand for keys and phone are allowed.  They will be searched when you enter and in line and must not be seen under the gown.
  • Additionally:
    No cameras are allowed unless they fit in your pocket or clutch purse.
• Approved Cords and Saches:
  • Gold GPA Cord for those who attain a 3.6 cumulative GPA.
  • Silver-AP Cord for those who take four AP courses and the exams that go with those courses.
  • White-CCMR Cord
  • IB-stole-achieving IB diploma candidate status
  • Health Science Red Cord-earned for completion of the Health and Science program
  • NHS Stole-those that have successfully maintained status as an NHS member
  • AVID Cord
  • National Art Honor Society Cord
  • ASL Cord
  • JROTC/ Enlisted 
  • Spanish Honor Society
  • Journalism Honor Society
  • Debate Honor Society
  • No other additional items will be allowed to be worn at the graduation ceremony.
     

Parking:

• All the parking locations are designated in blue on the map.  

Student Arrival:

• Students are to enter The Star from the north side of the building.
• We recommend you arrive one 1 before the start of the ceremony!

Professional Photography     Flash Photography will photograph each graduate and mail proofs at no charge within a few days of the ceremony.  Contact Flash at www.FLASHphotography.com if you have questions.

To view the live streaming of Plano East Graduation, please use this link: 

http://www.pisd.edu/WatchGraduation

Outstanding Fines     Graduates will not be allowed to participate in the ceremony if they have any outstanding fines, fees, lost textbooks, uniforms, etc.

Students, please find a current list of holds at this link.  This list will continue to be added to until all finals are complete and students have had an opportunity to turn in items that belong to the school. You will search for your student ID by clicking Control + F and typing your ID number in.

Sign language translators can be made available at all graduation ceremonies. Please submit this form to arrange this service. Because Plano Senior High School is home to the Regional Day School for the Deaf, arrangements for interpretation at this ceremony have already been made for students. Please plan to sit in section 108 if you would like to take part in this service.

To view your seating assignment, please click here.  Students must be signed into their PISD account.  Due to the two sections, students are not necessarily in alpha order in each section.  To help you find your name, click control + F at the same time and then type in your name.

Student line numbers will be assigned toward the end of the semester.  They can be found here.

The student will be located on the field according to this map:

• Each Graduate will receive 8 tickets for guests.
• Seating will be general admission.
• All guests over the age of two years old will be required to have a ticket for entry.

Distribution of Graduation Tickets - 8 per graduate – Students must present a photo I.D. and sign for receipt of tickets.  Students also must have all items cleared.  Students can check the not clear list by checking this link.  Students must be signed into their PISD account to view.  You will search for your student ID by clicking Control + F and typing your ID number in.  This list is being updated daily and will be finalized on TBD by midnight.  Students and families should check on TBD to ensure they are not on the list that would keep them from getting graduation tickets.

May 22-1:30 pm 

Alpha Sub School Students (A-Eso)…South-West doors on the pond side of building A
Beta Sub School Students (Esp-Li )… North-East doors on the pond side of building A
Gamma Sub School Students (Lj-Ray)…North Cafeteria entrance (closest to Gamma Sub School)
Delta Sub School Students (Rz-Z)…South Cafeteria entrance (closest to Delta Sub School
 

Graduation tickets not picked up by May 22  will be offered for redistribution on a first-come, first-served basis.  Students wanting to pick up extra tickets will need to come to the East front office at 10:30 am on Wednesday, May 27th.  Tickets will be given out until they are all given out or at noon, when ticket distribution and the front office will be closed for lunch.