A significant number of MEHS students do not use their lockers.
According to Google AI Overview, 91.2% of students at a high school in Alliance, Ohio, do not use their lockers at all. Only middle schoolers tend to use their lockers, unlike high schoolers who generally do not. Additionally, 66% of surveyed students said they don’t use their locker because they were frustrated or worried about being late. The time it takes to get to their lockers or open them often makes them late—especially for students who don’t know how to open lockers with the codes. Furthermore, some students prefer to keep everything with them because they either don’t trust the school lockers or would rather carry their belongings in their bookbags instead of traveling back and forth.
“I don’t use my locker because I forgot how to use a locker,” said Ivan Haro, a senior.
Some students don’t use their lockers because they don’t know how to open them or have forgotten how. This may be due to unfamiliarity with the locker codes or uncertainty about which direction to turn the lock.
“I don’t use my locker because I have no reason to put anything in it,” said Javian Santiago, a senior.
This suggests that some students see no purpose in using their locker, while others believe lockers can be useful for storing items. Students who do use them often keep backpacks, skateboards, or gym clothes inside.
“I use my locker because I take my skateboard to school, and I can’t—or don’t want to—carry it to each of my classes during the day,” said Juan Sanches, a senior.
This shows that lockers can be helpful since students don’t have to carry extra weight up and down the stairs, especially when their bags are already full.
As an incentive, this year, the school rewarded those students who used their lockers. Through September, the school dropped YOU WON! cards into 20 random lackers per week. Winning students excahnged the cards for a free ice cream in the student cafeteria.
Emily Ramirez • Oct 6, 2025 at 9:50 am
I think You guys did a really good job at explaining why students dont use their locker, one thing you guys can improve at is adding staff’s opinions and adding all grade levels opinions.
Dayami • Oct 6, 2025 at 9:50 am
I agree with your article, I see that a lot of students don’t really like using their lockers because of bugs and stuff.
keven • Oct 6, 2025 at 9:40 am
One thing I thought you did really well was the picture and I think you could improve your article if you had the quotes.
Mr. Miranda • Oct 2, 2025 at 11:43 am
Great report. I find that many new students, especially from other countries, don’t have any experience with lockers. I as a counselor purposely became good and at opening them due to the fact that a new student on his own will not figure it out.
beth hoskinson • Oct 1, 2025 at 10:04 am
Most bookbags are so big they don’t fit in the narrow lockers, plus they get bedbugs from them and schools will not acknowledge they have the bedbugs!