As the school year passes the halfway mark, most students begin to turn their attention towards end-of-school-year events. Whether it be tests such as AP exams or more exciting, celebratory events like prom, there is plenty to look forward to. This year, prom will be held on March 21st at 103 West Paces Ferry RD NW, and the theme is “Bridgerton.” Although prom is typically a very well-anticipated event, some students think it may be overhyped.
“I feel like prom is [advertised] like ‘Oh my god, this is the pinnacle of high school, this is the biggest event of the year,’ but it is really not,” said Samia Eva (‘27). “I like the movies about prom; they’re fun, but prom in general is just a dance. It’s just a school dance with bad music, bad people, and cheap food. Don’t expect so much from it when it’s just a school dance.”
However, even with opinions like these, many of these students still don’t want to miss out on this twice-in-a-lifetime event.
“The reason I want to go is because you only get two chances to go to prom, and it’s just a fun thing,” said Eva. “I want to spend more time with my friends because I don’t really get to go out that much, so school functions are the only times I’m allowed to really hang out with them.”
Prom was initially planned to take place in the Fernbank Museum, but, unfortunately, issues arose, causing the venue to be changed.
“I heard it was because the school couldn’t put down a deposit,” said Lily Lauterbach (‘26), “and I think that’s stupid because why are you an academic institution and unable to put down a deposit?”
Tickets were sold online from February 28 to March 13 for $70. Then, they were sold in person from March 2 to March 10 for $75. For anyone who hasn’t gotten a ticket yet, fret not, because they will be sold at the door for $80. Many students find this price to be understandable.
“It’s a bit expensive, but a lot of work goes into making [prom], and it costs money to rent the venue, so it makes sense,” said William O’Neil (‘26).
Other students think that these prices aren’t just understandable, but even a steal in comparison to other nearby schools.
“[Chamblee High School is] actually known to have one of the cheapest tickets in the county,” said Mackenzie Olaitan (‘27), “so I’m feeling pretty good because a lot of schools are paying a hundred plus.”
As for locations, some students have suggested better places for the school to hold prom next year.
“I think they should have it in a museum. [It should be] somewhere fun, somewhere where there’s a lot of space and a lot of things to do, and somewhere worth your time and money,” said Eva. “The aquarium would be fire. They could have prom in the dining area; imagine turning around, and you just see a whale shark.”
Regardless of the small hiccups here and there, many students are still looking forward to making new memories.
“I love [prom],” said Emily Papirio (‘26). “I think it’s a great opportunity for us to interact with our peers outside of a school setting, and I’m so excited to make these fun memories.”
