ORLANDO, Fla. — Jones High School parents are not happy about a change to the location of the school’s graduation ceremony.

For the first time in a long time, the school’s commencement ceremonies will not be at the arena in downtown Orlando, now known as the Kia Center.

What You Need To Know

  • For the first time in many years, Jones High School’s commencement ceremonies will be at UCF instead of the Kia Center in downtown Orlando

  • Jones High School to UCF is a nearly 30-minute drive and a nearly two-hour bus drive

  • Clara Thomas says she was one of several parents who showed up at a school board meeting in January to express concerns about the change of venue

  • Thomas says many Jones High School families live close to the school and rely on public transportation

This year, the school’s graduation is assigned for May 30 at UCF.

“All we were waiting for is a date, so once we got the date and the location change, it was just like ‘what?’ because we’ve always graduated at the arena,” said Clara Thomas, who graduated from Jones High School in 2001 and had three of her children attend the school.

Jones High School is about a five-minute drive, or 20-minute bus ride to the Kia Center. To UCF, it’s a nearly 30-minute drive and a nearly two-hour bus drive - one way.

“Not only is it being moved and not in the neighborhood anymore, but now you have to have tickets,” said Thomas. “So if you don’t know this child personally, you might not be able to see them graduate. And that’s not fair to the kids, the alumni, the families, none of that.”

Thomas says she was one of several parents who showed up at a school board meeting in January to express concerns about the change of venue.

A spokesperson for Orange County Public Schools responded back to questions about the change with this response:

“Graduation location assignments are based on two factors. The first factor is the availability of the venue. The second factor is based on size of the graduating class, which is prioritized according to the number of graduates. Jones’ high school graduation was not moved, it was assigned based on availability and size of the graduating class. We want to ensure that all graduates and their families are able to bring as many guests as possible to celebrate their accomplishment.”

Thomas says many Jones High School families live close to the school and rely on public transportation.

“Some of these kids that don’t have rides, how are they going to get to graduation rehearsal, and it’s mandatory - you have to go to graduation rehearsal so you know what to do,” said Thomas. “So now that’s twice this parent has to try to figure out how to get not just the child, but themselves, way over to UCF. And I just feel that’s unnecessary.”

Thomas hopes OCPS will offer help with transportation to UCF.

“Something needs to be done because these kids worked hard, and to be a child that looks up and maybe no family shows up just because they can’t, that’s unfortunate,” said Thomas. 

Orange County School Board Member Melissa Byrd says two high schools she represents, Ocoee and Wekiva High School, are also far from UCF but have had graduation ceremonies there for several years.

Byrd says the district is looking into providing some transportation help, but it’s unclear if that will be available.