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Prom season is getting an affordable boost as Centreville High School opens its annual Prom Dress Shop, offering hundreds of donated dresses and accessories at no cost to students facing financial challenges.
The shop opens Friday, March 7, at 5 p.m. and will welcome any student in the area—not only Fairfax County Public Schools students—who cannot afford to buy a prom dress. Shoppers must present a valid student ID or another form of school identification.
Located at Centreville High School in Clifton, the program has helped hundreds of students attend prom each spring. Its inventory comes from donations by Macy’s and community members.
Centreville High School and Fair Oaks Classroom on the Mall students launched the effort in 2006, combining an interest in fashion with community service. Marketing students use skills learned during the school year, including retail marketing and visual merchandising, to turn their classroom into the seasonal shop.
Marketing teacher Miranda Schick said the project gives students experience in a real-world retail setting while strengthening communication, collaboration, critical thinking and global citizenship skills.
The Prom Dress Shop is in the modular classroom building near the stadium, within the student parking lot outside Door 12.
The shop will operate during these hours:
- Friday, March 7, from 5 to 8 p.m.
- Saturday, March 8, from 2 to 5 p.m.
- Sunday, March 9, from 1 to 4 p.m.
- Friday, April 4, from 5 to 8 p.m.
- Saturday, April 5, from 2 to 5 p.m.
- Sunday, April 6, from 1 to 4 p.m.
Community members may donate gently used, dry-cleaned prom dresses and accessories at the school’s main office from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Donations will also be accepted during shop hours March 7-9 and April 4-6.