For high school proms in the US, some communities hold "after-prom", they wear
cheap prom dresses, an activity run by parents, teachers, and community leaders for prom attendees after the formal events. Post-prom may be held at a different location from prom and might include raffles, games or a late night meal. Post-proms are organized to discourage after prom activities such as under-aged drinking and sexual activity. "Post-post prom" activities might be planned by couples such as trips to local parks or amusement parks often extending well into the next day after the prom evening.
A group of friends might rent a limousine to transport large groups to prom.
Common prom activities include (but are not limited to) dining, dancing, the crowning of a prom King and Queen, and socializing with
cheap prom dresses.
In the United States and Canada, a prom, short for promenade, is a formal (black tie) dance, or gathering of high school students, held at the end of senior year. In the United Kingdom, the term is more widely understood to be in reference to a season of classical concerts or "proms", which have been held between July and September since 1895, today run by the BBC. The British synonym for the North American event would be Leavers' Ball, Leavers' Dinner, Formal or informally Leavers' Do, closer to the Australian description, although in the UK, most schools have called the above events proms in imitation of the North American tradition. In Canada, Ireland and Australia the terms Grad or Formal are most common and the event is usually only held for those in their graduating year of high school or middle school. In Ireland, the event is also known as the Debs, derived from Debutante.
While smaller schools may hold a school prom open to the entire student body, large high schools may hold two proms, a junior prom for those finishing their 11th grade year and a senior prom for those who are finishing their high school years. When the junior and senior proms are combined, it is sometimes traditional to have the junior class plan, organize, and even decorate the venue for the prom. Junior class attendees to a combined prom may still call the prom "Junior Prom". Proms are mostly attended by juniors and seniors, but some schools allow all classes to attend, usually requiring that one of the couple be an upperclassman. At some high schools, school administration may limit participation to students of the hosting school or of nearby schools. In rare cases, alumni may attend prom with students but the school may place age restrictions on such prom participants, such as requiring them to be under 21.
The Junior and Senior classes may participate in fund raisers throughout the school year to reduce the prom cost. It is estimated about 8 million girls attend prom in the United States each year.
