Donned in their sparkly dresses, dapper suits, and other fancy attire, over 200 Exceptional students, families, and student and staff volunteers from across Atlanta Public Schools (APS) gathered to celebrate a magical and unforgettable night at the 2025 APS Exceptional Student Prom, the district’s first-ever event of its kind.
Dubbed “A Magical Night at Disney,” the fun-filled event was held March 15 at North Atlanta High School and featured costumed Disney princesses, games, music, food and beverages, and spectacular decorations that filled the hall and school gymnasium. During prom, students took pictures at the 360-photo booth, played games, danced, and socialized with their friends and loved ones.
“It was awesome,” said Tina Crowell, whose daughter, Angel, is a ninth-grader at Frederick Douglass High School. “We loved the twirling photo booth, and the music was good. This was so nice. My daughter really enjoyed it.”
Organized by North Atlanta High School English teachers Jennifer Page and Rachelle Nurse, the prom was thoughtfully designed to ensure the district’s exceptional student population felt seen, welcomed, and valued. After years of planning North Atlanta’s prom festivities, Page and Nurse noticed that many exceptional students were not attending prom because the event didn’t accommodate their special needs.
Rather than isolate students, both teachers wanted to plan an event that many exceptional scholars could attend in addition to the annual spring prom. They also envisioned an event that would be accommodating, free of charge, and open for families to attend.
“These students are seen, and they deserve to be celebrated,” said Page, who is head cheer coach and Student Government Association (SGA) co-advisor at North Atlanta. “It’s also fun and beautiful that we have SGA leaders from across the district coming in to help and be with the kids. Their parents are having fun, and the kids are excited. That’s all that matters.”
Funded entirely by the APS Office of Equity + Social Justice, Page said she was also thankful for the support of Superintendent Dr. Bryan Johnson and a host of staff members who helped make the event possible. Over 75 SGA volunteers, exceptional education teachers, along with other district staff, came together to make the event a success.
In addition to Dr. Johnson, Atlanta Board of Education Vice Chair Jennifer McDonald and board member Tolton Pace were also on hand to show their support.
Nurse said she was honored to help make the Exceptional Prom a reality.
“An event like this helps students feel more comfortable being in this type of atmosphere,” said Nurse, who is also a cheer coach and SGA co-advisor. “This was an amazing event, and I’m so thankful and grateful that we were able to get the buy-in on a district level, and we hope to continue doing it for years to come.”
For parents like Rebecca Padgett, the Exceptional Prom was more than just a celebration — it was a powerful reminder that APS is deeply committed to fostering a sense of belonging for every student.
“It’s exciting, and I like that she gets to do what other kids do because they are left out of so many things,” Padgett said of her seventh-grade daughter, Sammie, who attends Sutton Middle School. “So, for students like my daughter to get a chance to be around so many people who are like them — and with the SGA students who were so excited to help them — it really warms my heart. It makes me feel good that there are people out there who care about kids like her.”
Maci Perry said she and her son, Asata, a sixth-grader, had a great time.
“We don’t get a chance to be around children and families who are going through the same things that we are, so it was great to attend something where we could have fun,” she said. “I really appreciate it. We enjoyed ourselves.”
Dr. Shateena Love, interim assistant superintendent of Exceptional Education, shared her appreciation for the event and emphasized its impact on students and their families.
“First, let me extend my heartfelt thanks to the planning team for creating such a magical moment for our students,” Dr. Love said. “While our exceptional students are always included and invited to their local school dances and proms, this event created a space where they could feel uniquely seen and celebrated — like it was truly their own. Efforts like this reflect APS’s deep commitment to honoring and valuing every student’s experience.”
Dr. Carina Windom, director of the Office of Equity + Social Justice, also reflected on the event’s significance and the district’s commitment to creating inclusive spaces for all students.
“This year’s Exceptional Prom was a powerful expression of what true inclusion looks like in action,” Dr. Windom said. “We believe every student deserves to feel seen, celebrated, and surrounded by joy. Supporting events like this affirms our deep commitment to honoring the unique brilliance of our exceptional students and their families. Equity means creating spaces where all students, in all their diversity, can thrive — and this prom was a beautiful example of that.”
