Seniors learning a tough lesson Getting through last year of high school is costly

Well, senior year ain't what it used to be -- cheap.

Gymnasiums have since been replaced by lavish hotels. Word-of-mouth invitations are now commencement announcements printed up on fancy stationery. And the senior trip to the park is Grad Nite, a visit with Mickey and Minnie at Walt Disney World.

What used to cost less than $100 today can easily cost $1,000.

``It is a lot of money,'' said Wendy Ippolito, one of two senior advisers at Hallandale High, 720 NW Ninth Ave. ``We tell the kids at the end of their junior year to take a job this summer. Do whatever you can to save up money because senior year is very expensive.''

Despite sticking to such advice, many seniors -- and their parents -- are shocked at the costs that pile up during the final half of the school year. By that time, they've already dished out an average of $300 on class rings, $80 on homecoming tickets and anywhere from $50 to $200 on college applications.

``Even though most of my friends have taken on jobs, they are still stressing out,'' said Hallandale senior Khea Davis. ``It's hard parting with that hard-earned money.''

Unlike her friends, Khea, 18, has been lucky. Her senior pictures ($300), prom dress ($200), three-piece Grad Nite outfit ($70), cap and gown ($21) and senior T-shirt ($10) were all paid for by Mom.

``Of course senior year isn't going to be cheap, but I keep comparing everything to what my older sister paid four years ago and I definitely feel like I am making out better than her,'' Khea said.

When Miramar High School senior Kris Southall thinks about all he's spent so far, well, it's enough to make him sick.

``Sometimes I don't even want to get paid,'' said Kris, 18, who works 15 hours a week after school at an electrical wholesale company. ``Every time I get paid I have to pay for something. Sometimes all I have is $20 in my pocket to take me through the whole week.''

How much has he spent so far?

``I don't know exactly how much, but it's been close to $800,'' said Kris, whose graduation announcements alone cost $200.

Like many high school seniors, Kris and his friends have decided to go all-out for the prom. In addition to the $100 he spent on tickets for him and his girlfriend, Kris is renting a black and white tuxedo for $100 and a 1995 Honda Passport for $62 a day. After the prom, he and 20 of his closest friends are heading for the Bahamas on a cruise. The tickets, $50 a pop, were a group discount, he said.

``Prom is going to be a fun weekend,'' Kris said. ``It's one of the only things I have looked forward to all year.''

But not every student goes all-out during senior year. Those who don't can get away with spending a relatively small amount of money, said Plantation High Assistant Principal Pete Tingam.

William Heller, an assistant principal at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School in Fort Lauderdale, said the final decision on how much is spent on graduation rests with students.

``A lot of it is self-decided costs,'' he said. ``There is no one who says you have to have a limousine for prom or all of the graduation parties that follow.''