High school students in Virginia were left stunned after they were denied access to their own prom.
Tickets for the Midlothian High School junior-senior prom sold out quickly Saturday night. According to the students, this happened in just a few days during the week-long opportunity to secure them. But it meant that not all students got tickets to their prom.
The news particularly infuriated seniors, as the cost of the tickets was included in the senior membership fee at the beginning of the year.
Holden White, a junior, was among those denied admission to the prom after failing to obtain a ticket.
“I was looking forward to it and thought everyone would only get two classes,” White said WTV.
Students at Midlothian High School in Virginia were left stunned after they were denied entry to their own junior-senior prom. Midlothian High School students are getting ready for the 2024 prom
Tickets for the event quickly sold out within a few days, infuriating seniors in particular, as their senior dues included the cost of tickets to the ball. Pictured: Midlothian High School’s 2023 prom
Junior Holden White said he assumed all students would be able to attend, “since there are only two classes.”
The school changed its prom venue this year from the Chesterfield Career and Technical Center’s Hull Campus to the Hippodrome Theater in Richmond – meaning less space and fewer tickets needed.
Furious parents criticized the school on social media for excluding students from the end-of-year celebrations.
‘Midlothian High School has changed the location of their Senior Prom this year and there are a fraction of the number of people in attendance than at previous locations. Many seniors have NO tickets to their OWN PROM,” one mother wrote.
She said her son got a ticket, but his “long-term girlfriend” did not, and followed with a plea for advice on getting an additional ticket.
‘There is so much chaos surrounding this subject that the school simply no longer responds to it. I’m so sad for them,” she wrote.
‘This evening was NOT on my radar of things to organize. He wants to be where all his friends are to celebrate the end of school…not with his mom.”
In a separate post, another mother claimed her son was able to get a ticket, but his date was not.
‘Absolute failure for these seniors!’ she wrote. ‘Heartbroken and sad.’
Midlothian High School hit back at the criticism and continued to persevere fewer than 10 students and 15 guests were unable to obtain tickets.
The school also claimed it informed families at the start of the year that the prom would have limited capacity due to a change of venue.
The school changed its location to the Hippodrome Theater in Richmond this year, leaving limited capacity for guests. Pictured: Students dancing during the 2024 ball
Principal Shawn Abel claimed the school had given students multiple options to obtain tickets and informed parents there was limited capacity due to the change of venue
In a statement to parents, principal Shawn Abel expressed regret that “very few” students and guests were unable to obtain tickets.
“We sent out a message at the beginning of the school year about prom tickets and limited capacity – be sure to check out early ticket options,” he wrote.
“We then advertised in February/March that seniors could claim their free prom ticket through a Google form, which was open from March 12 to March 14.”
Abel said registration reopened on April 24 and remained open until the following Monday, while juniors had the option to purchase their ticket online on March 13 and 14.
“We really wanted our Midlo students to be the first to have the opportunity to secure their prom ticket,” Abel continues.
The remaining tickets were divided into four lunch periods and the remaining tickets were sold. Abel insisted that no student was turned away if he wanted to.
“The reason for our venue change is that students wanted the prom at a different location… and there are few venues that can accommodate much larger than 700 people without 18 months’ notice,” he added.
Abel said the location was chosen based on “positive feedback” from another high school that had hosted its own prom there for two years.
In response to the uproar, the school opened a ticket waiting list with seniors given priority.
DailyMail.com has contacted Midlothian High School for comment.