Education
Education

High school seniors fill halls with thousands of balloons in epic prank

By Melissa B. Taboada
May 20, 2016

A sea of balloons crammed in the halls and stairwells of McNeil High School greeted students and teachers as they arrived at school Wednesday morning.

Explore>> Read more trending stories

Students who pulled off the senior prank at McNeil in Austin, Texas,  spent hours filling thousands of balloons and plastic wrapping them into the staircases and across the campus.

Some some stayed over night on Tuesday.

Principal Courtney Acosta was elated by the prank, changing her Twitter photo to an image of herself sitting in a swarm of balloons.

She posted several pictures on Wednesday.

"If kids aren't given the chance to play, they will take it," Acosta tweeted. "Thank you for doing it right, '16! #ProudPrincipal."

More than a dozen of the senior boys carried the patrol cart up a flight of stairs to the second floor, plastic wrapping the balloons inside it, with a silly message, “Haha. Now you’re booted. $30!”

About the Author

Melissa B. Taboada
More Stories

Keep Reading

Jack Rumpf, an incoming first-year from Athens, fist-bumps Buzz, Georgia Tech’s mascot, while entering the Campus Recreation Center Parking Deck to check in for move-in on Georgia Tech's campus in Atlanta on Saturday, August 10, 2024. (Seeger Gray / AJC)

Credit: Seeger Gray / AJC

Georgia Tech receives a record-high number of applications

After becoming Georgia's highest-enrolled college last fall, the Atlanta-based school received a record-high number of applications for the upcoming year.

Apalachee families urge Kemp to veto school cellphone ban, citing safety concerns

Several families of Apalachee High students said the texts they received during the Sept. 4 school shooting informed their opinion that a ban was not the right move.

DeKalb superintendent eyes higher grad rate, braces for future budget issues

DeKalb Superintendent Devon Horton talked about the ups and downs of education at the annual State of the District Address.

The Latest

Former U.S. Centers for Disease Control employees applaud former U.S. Department of Education employees as they exit the Sam Nunn federal building in Atlanta on Wed., April 2, 2025, after the Trump administration recently reduced the department's workforce by 50%. (Olivia Bowdoin for the AJC).

Credit: Olivia Bowdoin

Supporters ‘clap out’ former U.S. Education Department employees

From hiking to pottery, local programs offer spring break activities

Apalachee families urge Kemp to veto school cellphone ban, citing safety concerns

Featured

The last Michelin Guide Awards ceremony took place at the Georgia World Congress Center on Monday, Oct 28, 2024.

Credit: Jenni Girtman

With new American South guide, Michelin highlights Atlanta – but not Georgia

The 2025 Michelin Guide featuring metro Atlanta will expand to include six southern states: Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

Atlanta police say woman made fake 911 call prior to Young Scooter’s death

The bizarre string of events that led to the Atlanta rapper’s death began when Demetria Spence made a fake call to 911, according to police.

Trump’s legal fees, religious liberty and government secrecy: Georgia lawmakers plow through flurry of bills

Wednesday is the penultimate day of the 2025 Georgia legislative session. It’s expected to be busy as lawmakers rush to get their bills assigned to the House and Senate floor.

16m ago