Prom, a staple of high school culture since its rise in the 1940s, has long been romanticized as one of the defining moments of adolescence. The formal attire, corsages and boutonnieres, and awkward slow dances often cement the night as a core high school memory. Last Saturday, May 16, 2026, Perry hosted its highly anticipated prom, “Under the Lantern Lights,” at the Crane Bay Event Center. Yet, despite the glowing decorations and packed photo ops, the dance floor felt noticeably emptier this year, with far fewer sweaty teenagers “breaking it down” beneath the lanterns.
According to student treasurer Teresa Hicks, attendance dropped significantly compared to last year. “Last year we sold around six hundred… this year closer to five hundred,” Hicks said. While a crowd of five hundred students is still substantial, the decrease suggests prom may be losing some of its traditional appeal among today’s upperclassmen. The question is: why? Are rising ticket prices pushing students away, or is there a larger shift in how teenagers view the high school experience itself?
For junior Thachin Par, the sparkling dance simply did not match her personal vision of prom night. Instead of attending the event, Par chose to dress up, take pictures with friends, and spend the evening hanging out with them afterward. “I’m not the type to like, go out and dance,” Par said. “I’ve always thought about my dream prom as getting ready with my friends and having a sleepover.”
Par’s perspective reflects a growing sentiment among many students: the preparation and memories surrounding prom may matter more than the dance itself. For some, the excitement lies less in crowded dance floors and more in feeling confident, taking photos, and spending quality time with friends. The “glitz and glam” remains appealing, but increasingly as a social and aesthetic experience rather than a traditional school dance.
Others skipped prom for a simpler reason– they just were not interested. “I chose not to go because I’m just not that social of a person and I didn’t think it sounded that interesting,” junior Vedika Sharma said. School dances, often loud, crowded, and overwhelmingly energetic, do not appeal to every student.
Cost may also be playing a major role in declining attendance. With ticket prices rising this year, some students questioned whether the experience justified the expense. “It just didn’t seem appealing having to pay sixty dollars for something that I was going to stay at for twenty minutes,” Par said. As inflation affects nearly every aspect of daily life, students are becoming more selective about where they spend their money. For many, a short night of dancing no longer feels worth the price of admission.
Additionally with new changes to the grading scale more students did not qualify to attend prom this year which could be correlated in the smaller ticket sales.
While prom still holds cultural significance, this year’s attendance drop may point toward changing priorities among high school students. The tradition itself may not be disappearing, but the meaning behind it appears to be evolving.
