Resentment in perfection

There are schools that couldn't care less about kids who graduate, so long as they leave the building with the diploma they're all but handed.  There are also those that do care and make every effort to have their kids graduate at a rate above 80%.  Those who graduate every single student in the senior class is rare, yet incredible accomplishment.

So why take away the prom?   I can see cancelling a prom for bad behavior, but to motivate students to have that distinction, against all odds, and taking away a major event just so the administrators can feel better?

These schools - really the administrators - who likely have tons and tons of federal and state education funds riding on the graduation rate, i.e. having a metrics fetish so archingly huge that a 99% graduation rate means losing funds - funds they can't afford to lose.  It's an attention getter for the students to work harder, of course, but it sounds more like Captain Queeg running the high school.

On the other hand, these students are motivated enough to do their best, so this could all be a huge bluff by this principal to get them to work harder.  I'd love to see the students call this principal's bluff as follows: "Fine, we'll hold our own, unsanctioned prom, full of liquor and drugs, obscene dancing, and chaos.  No chaperones, no control, no anything.  Would you like to be in the news for a 100% graduation rate, or half of the NYPD in the Bronx hauling kids to jail?  Your choice."

Update: Never mind...the prom will go on.