I wish I had stuck with school, I could be in University right now studying for my degree if I had. Instead I just about have the qualifications I should've had when I was 16.
I'm no expert, as we don't have anything similar in the UK, but you could probably save yourself a lot of headache if you just forgot about the prom situation. As far as I've heard in all my years talking to Americans it really doesn't seem at all worth it to try to go when you're busy with other things :/