A Homecoming Court is a group of students—typically seniors—nominated by their peers to represent school spirit, leadership, and community involvement during homecoming week. The tradition often culminates in the crowning of a Homecoming King and Queen at a school event like a football game or dance.
A typical Homecoming Court is made up of 10–14 students, including the Homecoming King and Queen, usually seniors, and students representing the other grades. There is sometimes a Prince and Princess from the other grade levels. The exact number of students in a court can vary between schools.
Why is it important? Homecoming court is a key representation of a school and its values during the homecoming season. The members of the Court often act as role models for other students.
Now you know what a Homecoming Court is, but if you were still wondering ‘What is homecoming?’ our recent blog post will fill you in.
Homecoming Court, then, is a key element of the wider homecoming celebration that brings current students and alumni together to celebrate school spirit at schools and colleges across the US. It’s a beloved high school tradition and a key event in any school’s calendar.
How to Become Homecoming Queen?
The Homecoming King and Queen are crowned at hoco.
Court members must be nominated. Members are chosen based on their leadership qualities, integrity, achievements, and school spirit.
The Homecoming Queen title is awarded to the senior girl who wins the popular vote from their fellow pupils.
The selection process usually involves open nominations, a shortlist, and a final vote to determine the Homecoming Queen.
At some schools, any pupil can nominate themselves to be chosen as Homecoming Queen, while at others nominations are made by peers or a committee of faculty members. Some schools require nominees to have a certain grade point average, as well as having good attendance, participation in extracurricular events, and a good disciplinary record.
“At one high school, 50% of the homecoming court were leadership students, despite leadership-class students making up less than 3% of the senior class.”
The crowning ceremony often takes place during the halftime event of the football game—a key element of homecoming alongside a parade, and a dance which closes out the event.
After the Homecoming Queen has been selected, they are responsible for representing the school during the homecoming celebrations.
But, the big question is how to improve your chances of being selected as Homecoming Queen if your goal is to represent your school?
Here are our tips for aspiring royalty:
- Understand the Criteria - We mentioned some schools having criteria around achievement, attendance, and behavior, understanding these means you can meet them, and qualify for Homecoming Queen.
- Connect With Your Peers - Forging genuine connections with your classmates and faculty will stand you in good stead for nomination. If the court is selected by faculty members, it’s also worth making your intentions clear, and asking if there are any qualities they’re looking for from the Court.
- Campaign Effectively - Speak to your peers in person, asking them to spread the word of your nomination, and also leverage digital strategies to create a winning campaign. Go one step further and post flyers around the school supporting your nomination.
- Show Leadership - Volunteer for school events, initiate new events, and take part in as many activities as possible. You may also be able to sign up to mentor junior classmates.
- Be Authentic - Keep it real and approach the competition with sincerity, avoid superficially canvassing for votes. Aim to become Homecoming Queen for the right reasons (to show school spirit and represent the school), staying humble throughout the process.
“The Homecoming Court represents the best of what our student body has to offer—kindness, leadership, and spirit.”
- High School Principal, Panther Press Newsroom
Terry Costa’s Homecoming Dresses
What’s homecoming without a stunning dress to steal the show? Terry Costa’s homecoming dresses collection features the most breathtaking dresses yet.
Our homecoming dresses embody style, sophistication, and current trends. The designs in our hoco collection are special for their intricate details, luxurious fabrics, and dramatic silhouettes. There’s certainly a dress for every taste.
Glamorous sequins dazzle under the lights, lace overlays add a romantic touch, and jewel tones light up the room—whatever your preference you’ll find your ideal hoco dress in our collection, fit for a member of the Homecoming Court.
We carry all the most popular styles of hoco dress from sleek A-line dress, flirty skater dresses, and elegant ball gowns. Terry Costa’s homecoming selection has something for everyone.
Our dresses are naturally designed to catch the eye, but we don’t forget functionality. In a Terry Costa homecoming dress, you can comfortably dance the night away without worry. Thanks to our quality commitments, you’ll be the star attraction of homecoming.
"A 2021 study in Pediatrics surveyed 3,168 high school students in Pittsburgh and found that 9.2% identified as gender-diverse, using a more inclusive two-step gender identity method—compared to just 1.8% in earlier surveys."
FAQs
Have more burning questions about Homecoming Court? We’ve answered some of the most common questions about the tradition.
What does it mean to be on the Homecoming Court?
Homecoming is a time-honoured high school tradition. Being selected for the Homecoming Court is considered an honor at schools that celebrate homecoming. It’s seen as a recognition of leadership, school spirit, and respect among the school community.
What are the titles for Homecoming Court?
The main titles for Homecoming Court are King and Queen. Other schools may include titles such as Prince, Princess, Duke, Duchess, or other titles for different grades and categories. Some schools have gender-neutral titles, such as royalty, or homecoming royalty.
Do you give flowers to Homecoming Court?
It is customary to give flowers to members of the Homecoming Court. The Queen usually receives the largest bouquet, with each member receiving a subsequently smaller bunch of flowers. Roses are a popular choice, and bouquets may be designed to match a school’s colors.