HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – During the March 19 Christian County Public Schools Board of Education meeting, a decision to move the location of this year’s high school graduations was unceremoniously approved, with the CCPS Superintendent responding to concerns.
Dr. Melanie Barrett, Director of Pupil Personnel, presented the date for this year’s graduation to the board for approval, which will be on May 22. Christian County High School will graduate at 5:00 p.m. and Hopkinsville High School will graduate at 8:30 p.m. During the meeting she also said the graduation ceremonies will be held in each school’s gymnasium.
No discussion was held among board members regarding the location change.
Community concerns, statements from CCPS
Once the change was announced to the public via news release from CCPS, it was immediately met with community backlash on social media about potential capacity issues. Based on past information, each graduating class has around 200-250 students each possibly inviting several family members and friend to the ceremony.
“I understand the frustration,” Superintendent Chris Bentzel told Christian County Now the day after the meeting. He said he is now planning to speak directly to seniors to gather feedback about the location of graduation before moving forward.
In previous years Christian County and Hopkinsville High School graduations were held outdoors at the Stadium of Champions, which is scheduled to undergo a $2 million upgrade ahead of the 2026-27 school year along with the construction of the new school.
The board has not reviewed bids for the project at this time, and work has not begun on the renovation. Plans for the stadium include improving the entrance, paving the gravel driveway, relocating fencing, installing new astroturf on the football field, and repaving the track around the field.
After the school board meeting, CCPS sent out a news release about the decision to hold graduations in the gyms.
“Hosting graduation in each school’s gym honors the proud, long-standing traditions of both schools and allows the final graduating classes to celebrate this milestone within the walls where they have spent years learning, growing, competing, and building lifelong memories,” said the news release. “It is a meaningful tribute to the history, accomplishments, and pride of each school community while marking this important moment in their legacy.”
These historic graduating classes will mark the final seniors to cross the stage before all students consolidate this fall at the new Christian County High School, which is in final stages of construction.
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