Devastated Midlothian High School students in Virginia find out they can't attend prom for this shocking reason

High school students in Virginia are devastated after being denied entry to their prom following a controversial change in venue. 

Midlothian High School moved Saturday's event from the Chesterfield Career and Technical Center's Hull Campus to the Hippodrome Theater in Richmond this year - meaning less space and the need for tickets.

Tickets sold out quickly ahead of the formal, meaning some students couldn't attend their own prom. 

Midlothian High School seniors quickly lashed out as dues paid at the start of the year included the cost of the tickets.

Holden White, a junior, was among those barred entry from the prom after failing to get his hands on a ticket. He and numerous parents voiced their frustration. 

'I was looking forward to it and I thought since there is only two grades everyone would get to go,' White told WTVR.

Students at Midlothian High School in Virginia were left stunned after they were denied entry to their own junior-senior prom. Midlothian High School students get ready for the 2024 prom

Tickets to the event sold out quickly in just a few days, leaving seniors particularly furious, as their senior dues included the cost of prom tickets. Pictured: Midlothian High School's 2023 prom

Junior Holden White said he assumed all students would be able to attend, 'since there is only two grades'

The school hit back at criticism saying it informed families at the beginning of the year that the prom would have a limited capacity due to a venue change. 

Furious parents were not satisfied with the reasoning and lambasted the school on social media over leaving students out of the end-of-the-year celebration. 

'Midlothian High School changed the venue of their Senior Prom this year and it holds a fraction of the amount of people than previous locations. Many seniors are WITHOUT tickets for their OWN PROM,' one mother wrote.

She said her son was allocated a ticket, but his 'long-term girlfriend' was not, and followed with a plea for any advice on obtaining an extra ticket.

'There is so much chaos surrounding this subject that the school has just stopped responding about it. I’m so sad for them,' she wrote.

'This night was NOT on my radar of things to organize. He wants to be where all of his friends are to celebrate the end of school…not with his mum.' 

In a separate post, another mother claimed her son was able to secure a ticket, but his date was not.

'Absolute failure to these seniors!' she wrote. 'Heartbroken and sad.'

Midlothian High School defended itself against the criticism, insisting fewer than 10 students and 15 guests were unable to get tickets.

In a statement to parents, Principal Shawn Abel expressed his regret that 'very few' students and guests were unable to secure tickets. 

The school changed its venue to the Hippodrome Theater in Richmond this year, leaving a limited capacity for guests. Pictured: Students dance during the 2024 prom

Principal Shawn Abel asserted the school had given students multiple opportunities to secure tickets and informed parents that there was a limited capacity due to the venue change

 'We sent out a communication at the beginning of the school year regarding prom tickets and limited capacity - be sure to look for the early ticket options,' he wrote.

'We then advertised back in February / March that seniors can claim their free ticket to prom using a Google form, which was opened from March 12 to March 14.'

Abel said the registration reopened on April 24 and remained open until the following Monday, while juniors had an opportunity to purchase their ticket online on March 13 and 14.

'We really wanted our Midlo students to have the first opportunity to secure their prom ticket,' Abel continued.

The remaining tickets were divided among four lunch periods and the leftover were sold. Abel insisted no students were turned away if they wanted one.

'The reason for our location change is that students wanted prom at a different venue...and very few venues can accommodate much larger than 700 without 18 months' notice,' he added.

Abel said the location was selected based on 'positive feedback' from another high school that had hosted its own prom there for two years.

In response to the uproar, the school opened up a waitlist for tickets where seniors were given priority.

DailyMail.com has reached out to Midlothian High School for comment.