Is There Really a High School in West Texas That Doesn’t Have Prom?
It's true, there is a school in West Texas that does not have Prom, but do not worry for the students, they just have a different name for it.
The School would be Midland High School, and their Prom is called Catoico, which stands for the three major commodities of Midland: Cattle, oil, and cotton.
Pronounced "kuh-TOY-kuh" it is one of the oldest traditions in Texas being established back in 1929.
Yes, there is a Catoico King and Queen just like in prom and originally the title of queen went to the girl that had the most successful yearbook fundraiser. The first Catoico Coronation was held in 1936 and since 1939 the student body has chosen the Catoico Court.
The election process of the Catoico Court means the students have to complete a packet that includes teacher recommendations, grades, and extracurricular activities they are involved in just to name a few.
When the packet is completed, students then have to submit a video to be viewed by the student body so they can decide who they want to vote for to be on the court.
Midland High was first established back when Midland County was established in 1885, there was only one school at that time for grades 1-12 in a one-room schoolhouse.
Sixty-four students attended the school and by 1893 a two-story brick schoolhouse was built with the top floor being for secondary students.
The Midland Independent School District was established in 1907 and the first building to be Midland High School was built in 1926 where the Fasken Center is now on 600 W. Texas Ave.
The bulldog mascot was chosen in 1925 and the school colors, purple and gold, were chosen in 1929.
Midland High remained on Texas Ave. till 1949 when land donated by the Cowden family was donated for the present location of Midland High at 906 W. Illinois Ave.
So don't worry and don't feel sorry for the students of Midland High for not having a prom because they do have one, they just call it by a different name.