[Student Reporters] Too Many Students, Too Little Chairs

Sarah Kim <11th, Claremont High School>

High school students are quickly becoming frustrated with the effects of overcrowding causing confusion with the new schedule changes and enrollment difficulties. Overcrowding of the school is becoming readily apparent as empty desks in classrooms are being filled up and as faculty members enter AP classes to ask for volunteers to drop the class or else arbitrarily drop students from the course. This has proved to be a severe problem especially for students at Claremont High School.

With the new IB program implemented this year at Claremont High School students taking regular AP classes are finding it increasingly complicated to acquire the schedules they want. The problem with arranging schedules for students has become so severe and common that the school cut some AP classes to make room for more standard leveled classes.

This was evident in the administration's recent decision to drop a section of AP U.S. History to be replaced with a regular U.S. History class. This decision raises concerns for many families. They fear that it will force the students who challenge themselves academically and who have a passion for learning to be squeezed into overcrowded classes in which these students do not receive the personal attention necessary for their level of learning.

In addition to the perplexing jumble of schedules the school is also finding difficulties in handling the economic crisis. Even though each student that attends the high school means more money for CHS many find that the school may be taking advantage of this stipulation to the degree that it compromises the quality of education deserved by students already there. Many students have been forced to sit down on chairs with no desks sit on counters or even stay standing.

While CHS is attempting to solve the problem of overcrowding the acceptance list seems to have reached its capacity with over 50 people on the waiting list to attend CHS. However the school is attempting its best to overcome the setback of a stringent budget and resolve the problem of overcrowding by taking the initiative to put more proactive methods into action.