MINNEAPOLIS (KMSP) -
It's the time of year when teens don some fancy duds and head off to the prom, but one Minneapolis school's plan to turn away younger dates has many students steaming over the no-sophomore policy -- especially since some had already bought their dresses.
The tux, the dress, the flowers, the limo and the dinner are just a few of the things kids spend cash on for prom. So, imagine how bummed out they must be to learn their dates can't come just because of their age after planning -- and purchasing -- ahead of time.
"I was quite frustrated with it," said Roger Miller. "She was very disappointed, obviously."
Miller and Max Horn are juniors at Southwest High School in Minneapolis, and their prom is set for Saturday night. After learning they can't bring their ladies along, however, they now plan to sit it out.
"She was crying, actually," recalled Horn. "She was looking forward to this the whole year."
Their girlfriends won't be allowed into the prom because they are sophomores, and a new policy at Southwest states that the prom is for juniors and seniors only. The problem is: Students only found out about that rule a few days ago.
Principal Bill Smith says some seniors and juniors weren't happy about the underclassmen at the party, and staff was sympathetic. That's why they changed the rule in the school handbook and on the website -- but they never made an announcement.
That means that Miller and Horn will go to dinner and take prom pictures along with the rest of their friends this weekend, but after that they plan to spend another weekend at home.
The Minneapolis School District allows high schools to make their rules regarding prom individually, and it appears most others do allow sophomores to go.
