Update: Northwestern High Parent Talks About the High Cost of Graduation

Update, Oct. 20: Officials from Northwestern High school say they will offer a basic cap and gown package for graduating seniors.

According to county schools spokeswoman Lynn McCawley, there is a basic package offered with includes the cap, gown and tassel for $40.

The school hopes to publicize this information to students and parents promptly.

Original Post, Oct. 11: High school students in Prince George's County, as in many other parts of the nation, have a lot to deal with before graduation day.

They need to pass their courses, complete requirements for community services and extracurriculars, pass state examinations and the SATs, if they are college bound.

Yet former University Park councilwoman Anne O'Connor, who's son attends , says that may not be enough to actual walk across the stage, according to the letter to the editor she wrote in The Washington Post on Monday. 

At Northwestern High School, in order to get the cap and gown required to walk at graduation parents or students must cut a check for $159.

The reason according to her letter is because the cap and gown were packaged with a number of other items including a "tassel, souvenir mascot tassel, T-shirt, pullover hoodie, name cards and announcements."

"I asked what it would cost for just the cap and gown and was told that it was not possible to buy that separately," O'Connor wrote in The Washington Post. "When I said that I did not want the other items, I received a blank look and was told that the school had made a “special deal” with the company, so parents had to purchase the entire package."

To read the entire letter by O'Connor, log onto The Washington Post's website.