“$27?” I gasped as I pressed pay to buy my 2025 Homecoming ticket. That’s a lot of money for a dance that doesn’t serve food and only offers water in microscopic cups. Even worse, a guest ticket costs $37: how could I invite a friend and expect them to pay nearly $40 on top of the price of a suit or dress and dinner?
I assumed Boulder High’s prices were unusually high, but after a little research, I learned that Homecoming tickets at most schools range from $15 to $50. Still, I wondered: where is that money going?
Turns out, the $27 isn’t all set by Student Council (StuCo). StuCo advisor and math teacher Mr. Selnau explained that the council voted to keep tickets at $20, which he says is “as inexpensive as possible while still balancing the budget.” The extra $7 comes from administrative and GoFan service fees.
Each year, around 1,000 students attend Boulder High’s Homecoming, bringing in about $20,000 total. According to Selnau, “a little over half of that pays for the dance itself: the DJ, photo booth, decorations, Boulder police for safety, spirit week giveaways, and catered dinner for chaperones and ILC students through our ‘Chance to Dance’ program.”
The remaining $9,000 funds everything StuCo does throughout the school year: beloved events such as Pancake Breakfast, Valentine’s candygrams, teacher appreciation gifts, ‘There With Care’ support drives, outdoor movie nights, and more.
Assistant Principal Mr. Bishop added that the slight price increase for guest tickets this year was intentional: “We wanted to find ways to raise a bit more money without raising prices for our students. When a guest comes from another school, there’s more work behind the scenes: checking forms, contacting other administrations, so that’s one way to offset those costs.”
Bishop also noted that the service fees are similar to “concert fees,” where the ticket company takes a small cut. Both he and Selnau said they dislike the fees but value the convenience of digital tickets: they reduce lost tickets and long lines at the entrance.
For students who can’t afford the cost, both administrators emphasized that money should never be a barrier. “We always make sure anyone who wants to attend can,” said Selnau. Bishop agreed, adding, “We tell students: pay what you can. Some pay $15, some $5, some $20. We never want you to lose an opportunity because of money.”
Still, Bishop acknowledged that the school could improve communication about reduced-price tickets: “We don’t put big posters up because we don’t want students to feel embarrassed. But teachers and staff know who to talk to; we just have to keep getting better at making that clear.”
What I took away from this reporting is that Homecoming is not just a dance. It’s a fundraiser that pays for nearly every fun event StuCo hosts during the year. And as Mr. Selnau put it, “If I could make Homecoming as close to free as possible, I would in a heartbeat. I just always want to find creative ways to keep it affordable.” So maybe $27 buys more than just a few hours of dancing; it keeps Boulder High’s community spirit alive all year long.
