High school formal tickets costing more than $200 raising fears it’s too expensive to host

High school students are forking out hundreds of dollars for formal tickets raising fears the end of year tradition is becoming too expensive to maintain. 

Private schools are among the worst offenders asking Year 12 students to cough up more than $200 for a ticket.

The eye-watering sum forced some students to rent out their dresses so they can save money and afford to attend the glamorous event.  

High school students are forking out hundreds of dollars for formal tickets raising fears the end of year tradition is becoming too expensive to maintain (stock image)

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Kambala in Rose Bay, Sydney’s eastern suburbs (pictured), demanded $225 from each student if they wanted to go the formal at Dolton House Hyde Park

Kambala in Rose Bay, in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, demanded $225 from each student if they wanted to go the formal at Dolton House Hyde Park.

Parents were given the option of paying $45 so they could attend a drinks event in the first hour of the formal. 

Kincoppal-Rose Bay School charged $180 for its graduation ball at the International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Cranbrook School charged the same amount for its formal at the Royal Motor Yacht Club at Point Piper and Cronulla High School asked for $110.

Prom Night Events director Elliott Kleine said the average price for a ticket was between $150 and $170.

‘That’s up on what it was pre-Covid, and the venues are the culprits there,’ he told Sydney Morning Herald.

Students have taken it upon themselves to cut down on the cost of attending the event by hiring dresses instead of buying them.

Kincoppal-Rose Bay School charged $180 for its graduation ball at the International Convention and Exhibition Centre

One Wear Only Hire owner Brittany Wheeler said high school girls were saving more than 50 per cent in some cases.

She stocks designer dresses by Aje, Bec & Bridge, and Shona Joy and hires them out for $100 – a significantly cheaper price than the $400 it would cost to buy one. 

Cronulla High School student Jeorgie Brown said it made sense to hire out a dress as she was only going to wear it once.

Some high schools incorporated the formal ticket costs into student fees.

St Clare’s Catholic High School Year 12 coordinator Anthony Pope said integrating the cost stopped the school from putting more financial pressure on parents before Christmas.

‘In my years working with year 12s, I think the formal has gone out of and come back in to fashion,’ he said.

‘There was a period maybe 15 years ago where it wasn’t expected that every student would want to come, maybe only 60 per cent did, but now virtually everyone does.’