Lillian Geld is about to be a senior at Booker T. Washington High School, and she’s already thinking about where the summer money she earned from Josh’s Snow Shack will go.
She’s been working a job on and off since she was 12 years old, trying to save what she could to help pay for expenses so her family didn’t have to worry about coming up with extra money.
At this point, she’s got hacks. She’s manager of the school’s Pom dance team, which gives her free entrance to football games. She has friends who practice photography and say they’ll take her senior photos for free. If she looks in the right place, she says she’ll find a prom dress for cheap.
“I always try to find a loophole to get around super expensive things,” Geld said.
College application fees have been hanging over her head all summer. It doesn’t end there, either.
From sports to parking permits to graduation announcements, families can expect to open their wallets on the regular during senior year of high school. The Flyer compiled a list of what you might expect to help you budget by talking with parents and school districts.
What parents have to say
Tracy Calhoun’s daughter, Maddie, just graduated from Edison High School, and she wishes someone told her sooner how expensive senior year would be. She might’ve started stashing money away.
“It’s clearly, definitely expensive, and I don’t know if you know that leading up to it,” Calhoun said. “Maddie is our oldest, so we hadn’t obviously paid for any of this kind of stuff leading up to her. So, definitely a little bit of a sticker shock, I would say.”
Phil and Gail Crouch have two kids involved in different activities at Jenks High School, but they agree the little things add up. Their son just graduated, and their daughter is a rising senior. As graduation inches closer, the cost of sentimentality starts adding up.
“I think the photos are where we get pummeled because that’s where you know I just feel like we get suckered into stuff, thinking, ‘Oh, they’re only seniors once,’” Gail Crouch said.
Both families alluded to the “choose your own adventure” spirit of senior year. Not all expenses are required, but having a rough idea ahead of time is helpful, Calhoun says.
Fall semester
- Senior dues: Edison High School parents cash in $20 at the start of every year.
- Meal plan: Students in Tulsa Public Schools get free lunch, but seniors at Union High School pay $3.20 per meal if they’re not on free or reduced lunch.
- Parking permits: If your school allows it, reserving your spot can be competitive, especially if you want to paint it. It usually ranges between $25 to $65.
- Athletic participation fees: These depend on required equipment, duration of the season and what resources are already available. Fees range between $75 to $200 at Union High School. You might also have to cover travel and lodging for competitions.
- Club dues: These are typically around $30 each at Jenks High School. Many sports and clubs ask for money, but it may not be required with fundraising opportunities.
- Football games: Tickets hover around $4 or $5 for students. There might also be an activity pass, which costs between $25 to $30 for entrance to all sports games.
- College application fees: Some might be free for in-state schools. Parents say they paid between $50 and $100 per application for out-of-state schools. Security deposits could cost another $160 to $180.
Spring semester
- Prom: Tickets ranged between $35 to $50. Outfits, though, are a whole other story. Families paid $385 for a new suit and around $500 on a dress. Renting or thrifting could be cheaper.
- Senior celebration: This depends on the school and activity. A senior breakfast cost $15, a celebration night cost $45 in advance and a festival cost $65.
- Cap and gown: This can vary, especially if you buy a bundle with other stuff. Just the cap, gown, tassel and stole is $44.95 at Union High School. Packages go as high as $262.65. One family paid $105 for the basic cap and gown package.
- Class ring: This can range between $380 and $460 at Union High School.
- Graduation photos: Families who booked a photographer for senior photos paid between $788 to $1,000.
- Graduation announcements: One family paid around $2 per announcement using Shutterfly. Another family bought a graduation package through a school partnership, which cost $280 for a cap, gown, tassel, graduation announcements, thank you cards, a hoodie and an extra tassel for keepsake.
- Senior yearbook: These cost between $80 to $85.
- Other costs: Parents say you might also want to factor in gas and meals at events, plus any senior ads you’d like to purchase.
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