This year’s prom will be held in Greenbelt, MD—about 40 minutes away from Jackson-Reed via car and an hour and 45 minutes via public transportation.
Compared to locations in the past, the venue, Martin’s Crosswinds, is significantly further from Jackson-Reed. In 2022, prom was held at Culture House DC in Southwest near the Waterfront Metro stop. In 2023, prom was at the Kennedy Center.
Some seniors have expressed frustration that prom, which will be held on June 6, is located farther from JR than in past years. Senior Celia Joldersma said, “I am excited for prom, but I am not excited about the location because it is very far from here.” However, Joldersma did say the venue “looks really nice.”
Senior Anna Gordus expressed a similar sentiment, saying, “I’m definitely not happy with the location because it’s pretty far and it means I’ll spend around half my night commuting.”
Because of distance, some seniors are struggling to navigate transportation to and from prom. On public transportation, the trip involves taking a bus, the Green line on the Metro, another bus, and a total of 20 minutes of walking.
Senior Jackson Alexander said he “feels like the venue for prom this year creates an unnecessary amount of financial stress on students.” He added that “it’s hard for a lot of people to find ways to affordably get somewhere that is so far away when transportation costs so much money.”
“It would be much more practicable for the administration to hold prom at a venue in DC that is more accessible,” Alexander added.
One anonymous senior pointed out concerns about students’ potentially drinking and driving . “It’s terrifying that the administration hasn’t considered that kids are going to be drunk driving to prom,” the student said. “People can’t afford to rent private transportation, and public transportation takes forever. Kids are just going to drive drunk.”
Principal Sah Brown said the administration is “considering ways to address the transportation concerns that [they] have heard.” But a specific plan had not yet been announced as of Beacon publication.
Brown said the administration’s Senior Team worked with the Student Government Association to secure a venue in DC, but “things such as costs, date availability, and contract terms prevented us from reaching an agreement.”
When asked about the decision to choose Martin’s Crosswind’s, Brown said, “We identified a location that has successfully hosted DCPS proms.”
The prom was organized by 12th grade Assistant Principal Porshia Ojigbo, who referred all questions to Brown.
The 2025 prom was held at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and prompted similar concerns from students about distance. But the event went by with little to no major issues.
Joldersma said she and her friends planned to rent a party bus for the night, with each student paying $120. Gordus has a similar plan, renting a bus which will cost around $100 per person in her group. “The venue being so far away means we have to rent [the bus] for longer, making it more expensive,” she said.
Junior Julia Khoury said that the distance is very frustrating “because we’re going to have to get from the monuments”—where students visit to take photos before prom—“to Greenbelt on our own.”
Senior Lucinda Schaible said, “I am not excited literally at all, and I think it was executed poorly. I’m not even sure if I’m attending the actual dance.” She added that she’s experiencing “lots of stress because it’s expensive.”
Senior Alexis Mott said, “I don’t know anyone who’s happy about it. I don’t understand why it’s that far.” •
