As prom season approaches, excitement is in the air at Roseville Area High School (RAHS). But for some students, a school policy tied to attendance is casting a shadow over the big night.
This year, students currently on an activity ban will not be allowed to attend the 2025 prom. The policy has sparked a debate within the school community, raising questions about fairness and accountability.
According to the RAHS administration and student support team, the rule is designed to promote regular class attendance by tying participation in major events like prom to a student’s school engagement.
“Our hope is that by setting clear expectations, students who are in the building but not regularly attending class will feel encouraged to make different choices,” said a member of the RAHS Administration team. They said that since the policy was put in place, attendance has improved and many students are seeing positive results.
Gym teacher and prom planner Jamie Lauinger agrees with the policy. “I think it’s fair and it’s a good way to hold students accountable,” she said. Lauinger also pointed out that students on the ban can meet with counselors to create a plan and earn their way back into being able to go to prom.
While staff view the policy as a positive motivator, student opinions are more divided.
Senior Christina Phan feels the rule is unfair. “Prom is a once in a lifetime experience,” she said. “Each student has a different situation which leads to the actions that cause their attendance to fall, eventually leading to activity bans.”
Junior Isabella Franco echoed those concerns. “I see where the school is coming from,” she said. “However they implemented the rule after the first trimester but included the attendance for the first trimester. I don’t see how this was fair because it was never enforced,” said Franco. She felt as though it isn’t fair for those who didn’t know it would count against them.
“If this rule was to persuade kids to go to class, why would you penalize them for things they can’t fix? I think this rule is unfair for the students and they shouldn’t have their prom taken away” expresses Franco.
However, not all students oppose the decision. Senior Ezra Young supports the enforcement. “I think if you’re on an activity ban, then you should be banned from all activities. I feel like it’s pretty hard to get a ban, and that if you end up at that point, you get the punishment. Prom isn’t any different,” said Young.
As the date for the dance nears, the conversation continues. The debate reflects a broader question: How should schools balance rules, rewards, and student challenges? The policy will most likely stay in place and for some that means no prom unless improvement in attendance is shown.
