Prom is one of those rites of passage that high school kids dream about for years. It’s the music, dancing, pictures and more. It all sounds like the perfect night out. But before any of this fun is had, there is a growing list of expenses that can turn this night into less of a fun event and more of a hassle.
The ticket
The original cost of a prom ticket this year starts at $55, and you have to pay fees on top of that. If you wait until the day of prom to get a ticket, it will cost you $65. Although this may not seem like a lot to some people, for some of these kids waiting until they get their paycheck or get their money together, it can be a big deal. To a couple, the cost of a ticket to prom alone will be more than $130 before they spend a single penny.
Dinner
Although having dinner before a prom is not necessary, it is a tradition most friend groups take part in. Although some may opt for a sit-down dinner at a restaurant or a reservation at a restaurant as a way of fitting into the theme of the night, having a prom dinner can cost anywhere from $25 to $60 per individual or more, based on the cost of the restaurant and whether transportation is a factor. The cost of a dinner for a group of six or eight people can exceed $300.
The bus
Another optional, yet sometimes necessary, expense to consider is renting a party bus or limo for the evening. This, of course, can be made more affordable by dividing the expense amongst a large group, but still represents another expense, this time in the sum of 50-100 dollars per individual, in addition to all other expenses already mentioned. To students who are not in a large group or in a group where not everyone can attend, this option will not even be available to them.
“I am paying $100 including tip and tax for the bus this year. This surprised me because it is a decent amount of money for 9 hours, split amongst 18 people,” Tristan Sears (11) says. “This is something I have to do with my group this year even though I would probably rather drive my car to prom instead.”
The outfit
Of course, there’s the price of an outfit. A prom dress, depending on whether or not you’re lucky enough to find one in a second-hand store, can range from $50 to over $300 if you’re looking to get a brand new one. Suits and tuxedos, depending on whether you’re renting, can range from $100 to over $250 if you’re getting them new. A boutonniere can range from $15 to over $35, and a corsage will be about the same. For a couple, floral accessories can cost up to $60 before tax.
“My dress was about $200 from Baby Boo, and my heels and jewelry probably added around $100,” Finley Weidner (11) says. “I also paid for my date’s boutonniere, and he is paying for my corsage. I think the flowers could be optional, but I think they’re important.”
Adding it all up
As you add up all these costs, the low end of the scale tells you the high cost. If a student wants to go out on a date, have dinner, and split the bus fare, it can cost up to $300 to $500 per night. Not only is this not the problem for families living on a tight budget, but it is also the reason why students are not going at all.
This is the conversation that is not being discussed. Prom is part of every high school student’s experience. Prom is the right every student should have. However, the message being sent in the background is very different.
The school’s perspective
Of course, to be fair to the schools, they aren’t charging these ticket prices out of greed. They have costs for the venue, food, decorations, a DJ or band, security, event coordination and more. Schools, like everywhere else, also have their own budgets to work with, and this is the price the school is trying to charge to help offset the event’s costs, which can be costly. When one thinks about the idea of charging $55 per ticket for this event, which could potentially have hundreds of students in attendance, well, when one really thinks about it, it really isn’t a high profit margin.
In this context, however, the student is still affected if they aren’t within this price point.
Where the line should be
What we should really be focusing on is not whether the school should charge for prom, but whether there should be limits on how much the school can charge and whether there should be support for those who can’t afford to attend.
Some schools have started offering payment plans or discounted prom tickets to students who receive free or reduced lunches. These aren’t exactly the best solutions, but at least they show some understanding that there is indeed a problem.
The school year is full of shared experiences. Ideally, prom should be one of those shared experiences. It should be something that all students should experience. But if we continue to allow the cost of prom to rise, it’s no longer something that all students can experience. It’s something that some students can experience.
