Guang-Yue Su (287)

Central High School has a trend of increasing its number of average student admissions each year. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in the 2024-2025 school year, the twelfth grade population was 568, while the number of 9th graders was 589. Although the student population count continues to rise, many recognize it as a part of a routine.

Mr. Nadel, a history teacher at Central, feels that “it is about the same level of hallway congestion as this time last year. The first few months of school are when students learn to navigate the halls, figure out where the busiest sections are, and avoid them. By the second or third quarter, the hallways are typically somewhat less crowded.” The beginning of the school year brings new transition schedules and freshmen that have to navigate being in an unfamiliar school, after all. Fortunately, he has his own classroom. “Floater teachers” will have many more transitions than he does, much like other students.

For students with classroom changes that are far away, the slower-paced students can cause an issue. Siting Liang (287) mentions, “I have to go from Mr. Meinhart’s class to Ms. Dragomir’s, which is [from the] third floor C-Wing to first floor A-Wing, and I have to be at my seat before the late bell.” During these transitions, there are some areas that are especially hard to get through. Through experience and observation, it appears that the first floor, and especially the areas close to stairwells and the main entrance, was crowded.

For those looking for faster ways to get around the school, here are some tips that I’ve received. Vlada Djaja (287) wrote that people should experiment with “different routes or leave class as soon as the bell rings.” Mr. Nadel says that “I make sure that I have eaten my lunch, refilled my water, and made any other stops I need to make before the bell rings, so when my lunch or prep is over I can go straight back to my classroom,” a useful observation for both students and faculty. Siting’s answer, “sprint and shove everybody on your way, while saying ‘excuse me’” may seem like a moral dilemma, but for the really busy Central students, this is what some feel they must do to get to their classes on time.