In the past it was not uncommon for high school students to go to lunch off campus and not get in trouble for it, but today the administration does not let students leave.
Open campus is when students are allowed to leave school during lunch and come back before their next class starts.
Out of 283 Sedro-Woolley High School students varying in grade levels, the majority of 84.9 percent want an open campus. Benefits of having an open campus are that students would be able to go home or go get food on their lunch break.
Some of the downsides of an open campus policy are kids could be late coming back to class or may not even show up at all. According to SWHS Vice Principal Laura Schmidt, data from other schools shows that when students are granted open campus, the attendance rates for classes after lunch decreases noticeably.
The biggest and most important reason that we have closed campus is because of students safety, according to Andrea Clancy, SWHS Vice Principal.
“Stick to close campus I think kids benefit more staying here and asking the help provided versus leaving campus and not returning on time for class,” said SWHS teacher Rachael Rodriguez.
Some kids think they should have the opportunity.
“If we have open campus kids should be able to drive and they should just be responsible to be back in time for class,” said SWHS junior Josseline Aguirre.
Austin Johnson, a student teacher, went to high school in Renton where he and his fellow students had open campus. Johnson felt that majority of the students at his school used the policy respectfully, and that it gave the students a “stronger sense of freedom.”
As of this school year there is not a chance for SWHS becoming an open campus. Due to safety and disciplinary factors, the risks outweigh the rewards in the eyes of administration