Some Montgomery County families are going to be schlepping to graduation.

Beginning this May, public high schools will hold graduation ceremonies at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County — a venue that’s more than 30 miles away from some campuses.

Montgomery County Public Schools spokesperson Liliana López said the change “ensures a comfortable indoor setting, easy access for families, and lower costs, thanks to districtwide negotiations.”

She said families will hear more about transportation options to UMBC in the coming months.

High school graduations were previously held at a variety of venues, including DAR Constitution Hall, Mount St. Mary’s University in Frederick County and individual campus auditoriums.

According to the schedule posted on the district’s website, the 2026 graduation ceremonies will run through the end of May into the beginning of June.

Families with students at Damascus High School — about 35 miles away from UMBC — told Fox 5 they were disappointed by the decision to move the school’s graduation from its campus.

Damascus has a longstanding tradition of hosting graduation on its football field, a beloved memory for generations of families.

“When you move graduation out of Damascus, you’re not just moving the event, you’re breaking a thread that connects families,” PTSA President Monique Sotomarino said. “Students are actually proud to graduate where their parents and grandparents did.”

The PTSA has released a survey to gather community input on the ceremony’s move, and the results will inform future advocacy. What matters most are the voices of students, Sotomarino said.

The vast majority of respondents so far feel strongly that they want to keep the graduation at Damascus.

A handful of people said they were OK with the move because of the weather. It can be hot during graduation season, and rain can also cause issues.

Many others said they don’t care about those things.

“They will take that to keep the tradition and not go to UMBC,” Sotomarino said. “The tradition is part of what makes the community so strong and so invested in the school.”