Rose basketball highlights
School spirit comes with a price tag
FRI.| 10-24-25 | OPINION
Due to the increase in clubs and sports at Rose, the amount we have been paying to be a part of them has become absurd. This year, I paid $295 for school fees, a parking pass, clubs, and an athletic pass. These high prices have put serious barriers in place for people attempting to be involved at Rose, and it has become a financial burden.
On top of my club dues, there are the required payments for Rose, which include the School Fee, the Senior Class-Grad Fee, and Instructional School Fees. Additionally, to see a high school football game it now costs $10, $11 if you pay online, while on some occasions you can get an East Carolina University football ticket for about $9 is absolutely mind-boggling.
Photo by Bailey Brown
I have always thought of myself as involved at Rose, but when I look at all the things my peers do, I am astonished. While discussing this topic with my friends, they mentioned that the Health Occupations Students of America increased their dues to $35 from $25, and if you want to compete at regionals, there is an additional $37 charge. If they were to participate in the same activities as I, this would add up to $367, a very high amount for a high school student to pay. It's unbelievable, especially since most students are not able to obtain jobs during the school year. With all this in mind, students may not be able to join clubs that they have wanted to participate in since they began attending Rose.
I believe that some students or their families have paid over $500 this year just so they can be involved at the school, build a good resume, or to remain competitive for colleges. In my opinion, this is absolutely absurd, especially considering that there are people who go to Rose who can't afford these exorbitant costs. Having to pay this amount of money for them would be a huge burden, especially because they are all due around the same time.
A possible solution for this issue would be for the school to allow students to make their payments throughout the year or semester. This would make them able to get their finances in place so that they won't be scrambling to try and figure out what they can and can't be involved in. The school claims that they put students first, but when we are not able to participate due to a lack of funds, they are not allowing for inclusivity. Allowing students to pay later would allow the clubs to be accessible for all students, not just the ones who can afford it.
Not only are the dues expensive, but participating in the clubs has begun to cost a pretty penny. The week of homecoming, many clubs participated in the canned good drive and some also collected candy. This required all active members to go out and purchase 5 cans per club which totaled in me spending around $75 just to get about one credit per club. Having to spend this amount multiple times a year on top of dues has become unmanageable.
How are we supposed to rise to every opportunity if the price is rising with us?
