Parents at Berkeley County School District’s winter commencement on January 10, 2026, at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center faced significant frustration when hundreds were turned away due to capacity limits. Graduates like Brooke McMillian from Timberline High School expressed disappointment over missing family during the ceremony, while parents such as Ashley Christman criticized the district for inadequate planning despite anticipating a large turnout from around 220 early graduates.​
District Response
District spokesperson Katie Tanner explained that BCSD graduations traditionally remain non-ticketed, following community preference against ticketing implemented for spring events. The ceremony started on time at 11 a.m., with doors closed only after it began by Performing Arts Center staff managing capacity, differing from larger summer events at the Coliseum.​
Parent Concerns
Families described the scene outside as chaotic, with no advance notice of seating limits despite the combined graduations from multiple schools equaling a full class size. Many emphasized that parents rarely miss such milestones, regardless of January timing, highlighting a need for better anticipation of attendance.​
Context from Schedule
The official 2026 schedule confirms the event at the Performing Arts Center, smaller than Coliseum venues used for May ceremonies, which may have contributed to space issues for this inaugural winter format. No prior ticketing or capacity warnings appeared in district announcements reviewed.​
