Student forced to change after wearing jeans and blazer to prom

LEDYARD, Conn. — Should children who are too poor to afford a suit be banned from attending a school prom?

That's what one family in Connecticut is asking after their daughter's date was asked to leave for wearing jeans.

The school says, all students knew well ahead of time, there was a dress code for prom night.

Jenna Russell feels pretty at home on the farm, in fact she's about to graduate from Ledyard High School's agricultural program. This past weekend, she and her date wanted to continue that country theme, into the prom.

"I had my camo dress and he had his red jacket which kind of matched and the jeans went with the country theme,” she said.

But after a few hours, Jenna says she and her date were stopped by the principal. Even though her date had a blazer, he was wearing jeans. The principal said he either had to change, or leave.

"They shouldn't have done that, he was formal, he had formal clothes on, and it just ruined my night, ruined our night,” Russell said.

Jenna's dad brought her date a suit, and they ended up staying at prom.

The superintendent said if they had any questions about the dress code they could have asked the principal, and if Jenna's date had worn khakis instead of jeans, he would have been fine.

"I don't think that anybody going to prom should be wearing jeans, I think it's a formal event and there's plenty of opportunities to find stuff even if you think it's expensive,” Samantha Barnes, a senior at Ledyard HS said.

Jenna's mom says even though her daughter is now weeks away from graduating, she thinks this is a bigger issue.

"I just want any child to attend prom that wants to. I don't think it should just be for rich children. If somebody doesn't have the money for formal attire, I think they should be allowed to attend as long as they're behaving themselves and they look neat and clean,” Rae-Jean Davis said.

Cox Media Group