A principal at a New Jersey high school has apologized for prom tickets that contained a line urging students to "party like it's 1776."

In a letter posted to Twitter Friday, Cherry Hill East High School Principal Dennis Perry said he was "writing to apologize for the hurt feeling this reference caused for members of our school family."

"It was insensitive and irresponsible not to appreciate that not all communities can celebrate what like was like in 1776," Perry wrote. "I especially apologize to our African American students whom I have let down by not initially recognizing the inappropriateness of this wording."

Perry said the school will be reprinting redesigned commemorative prom tickets that will be distributed at the dance and that in the future, "safe guards will be added to ensure that a diverse group of people view all information before it is distributed to the school."

The prom is planned for the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.

Please read this letter of apology to the East Community. pic.twitter.com/BnokMF0n9Q — Dr. Dennis Perry (@drperryateast) May 18, 2018

According to The Courier Post, black students represent 6.2 percent of East's student body, compared to 62.2. percent for whites and 22.4 percent for Asians. Slightly less than 6 percent of students are Hispanic.