Prom is a cherished tradition for many high schoolers: a night of glamour, celebration, and social bonding. It’s a chance for students to unwind, celebrate their accomplishments, create lasting memories with friends, and revel in the joy of youth. For many, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience that no one wants to miss out on. Students spend months preparing themselves, full of excitement to buy dresses or suits, do their hair, nails, makeup, find a date or group, and make the night a memorable one.
Unfortunately, New Trier High School’s Prom falls on Saturday, May 11, which occurs in one of the busiest times of the school year.
Placing prom in the midst of AP exams creates a conflict of priorities. Students are forced to juggle preparations for exams with arrangements for prom, leading to increased stress and anxiety.
The College Board, who runs AP courses, schedules all AP Exams to happen during the first half of May, meaning that prom falls right in the middle of AP exams. These exams are rigorous assessments that can potentially earn college credit and demonstrate a student’s mastery of college-level material. They require weeks, if not months, of dedicated preparation, often involving late-night study sessions, practice exams, and intense review. Students invest significant time and effort into these exams, knowing that they can impact their future academic goals.
Placing prom in the midst of AP exams creates a conflict of priorities. Students are forced to juggle preparations for exams with arrangements for prom, leading to increased stress and anxiety.
In my own case, I have one exam the day before prom, and two more in the following week. This means that during a night that is supposed to be one of the most important high school experiences, I will likely be thinking about the stress of the upcoming week and how to squeeze in a last bit of studying the day after prom. This is the case for many other juniors and seniors at New Trier.
Having prom in May also creates conflicts with other events. May is a time made busy with preparations to end the school year. Many final sports tournaments and events occur at this time, so many students have less availability. Juniors also need to start preparing to enter their final year of high school, wrap up projects for their classes, begin preparing for finals, and possibly take the SAT or ACT. Seniors are also under pressure as they need to wrap up their high school years, prepare for graduation, and think about their future in college or any other path they decide to take. This time can be overwhelming, and prom preparations can make it even worse.
So, it is clear there is a problem, but what can be done in the future to prevent this? Prom would be better suited to occur during late April. This is a time that is less busy for most students. It falls after the state-required SAT taken by New Trier juniors in early April, but before the stress that comes with AP Exams and end-of-year preparations. It is also not uncommon for other schools to have their prom during April as opposed to May. Vernon Hills High School, for example, had its prom this year on April 20, 2024. April also typically has fewer competing events and commitments for students, such as sports tournaments, college visits, and other extracurricular activities. This reduces conflicts and ensures higher attendance at prom.
Hosting prom in April allows students to celebrate and create memories earlier in the school year. It can serve as a positive and uplifting experience before the academic intensity of May sets in.