One of the most common social gatherings high schoolers attend is a school dance. Homecoming is the first dance of the school year. Many of the local high schools have a homecoming dance, but there are numerous differences between each school.

The first difference is the date. Pleasant Valley High School had their homecoming dance on Sept. 8. This was during the second week of school. Senior Divya Vashisht attended this homecoming. “I didn’t really like it being so early,” Vashisht said. “I feel like it would have been better if we had more time to prepare. But on the bright side, the weather was better then.”

All the Davenport schools, Bettendorf and Alleman had their homecoming Sept. 22. “I thought it was perfect,” said Bettendorf junior Ashley McKim. “It wasn’t super early like PV’s, but it was also wasn’t super late like ours was last year so we had time to get dates and dresses and reservations without being stressed out.”

North Scott High School has yet to have their homecoming. It will be held Oct. 6. “I think our homecoming is a little late compared to other schools, but I don’t mind it personally,” North Scott junior Jenna Willet said,“I’m sure some people wish it was earlier though.”

Every homecoming has a theme. Pleasant Valley spent A Night in Paris, Davenport North celebrated Mardi Gras, Davenport Central was glowing with neon at Glowcoming and Alleman stepped into the world of Monsters Inc.

Ticket pricing varied slightly high school to high school. Pleasant Valley and Davenport North tickets were $10. Davenport Central, Alleman, and North Scott tickets were $15. Bettendorf tickets were $7.

Another thing that could have cost students money was a bag check at the dance. Students could put shoes, purses or car keys in a bag while they attended the dance. Bettendorf, Davenport Central and Pleasant Valley had free bag checks. Alleman had no bag check and Davenport North had a bag check for one person for $3 or share a bag for $5.

Most homecomings are at the specific high school’s gym. There are a few exceptions: Pleasant Valley had their dance in the cafeteria and Davenport Central had their dance at the River Center.

“I like having our dance at the River Center because it has a lot more space than the gym,” Davenport Central senior Grace Stephan said. “It has air conditioning unlike most gyms, it seems more fancy and it’s pitch black so the lights and decorations look cooler.”

The theme, location and date all play a big role. But there is also a difference in when the dance begins and ends. Davenport North and Davenport Central start as early as 7:00, and Bettendorf and Pleasant Valley start at 8:30. Some dances go as late as 11:00 while others end at 10:00.  “I think that our time is perfectly fine because it isn’t too late and it isn’t too early,” Davenport North junior Trevor Voss said.

While there are many differences between homecomings at each school, each one is a time when high schoolers can get dressed up and have a fun night with friends.

“Honestly, I enjoy getting dressed up and taking pictures and going out to eat and hanging out with my friends more than the dance itself,” Alleman senior Paige Nimrick said. “Homecoming festivities are also really fun and our student council does a really good job at making it enjoyable. Homecoming is a happy time and it’s nice to have fun with my friends.”