The current Lexington High School (LHS) was originally built in 1953. Over the decades, it has undergone many renovations and additions, yet buckles under the weight of what the community needs today.

While the school needs improvements in many areas, the three biggest are overcrowding, undersized spaces, and broken heating/cooling systems.

Severe Overcrowding

LHS enrollment projections are expected to reach 2500 students over the next few years. It’s becoming increasingly apparent that the existing building is too small. It was only intended for 1850 students, and the hallways are too narrow for the comfortable flow of human bodies. 

There are 5 minutes of passing time to get from one class to another, and every day the main hallways fill with crowds of students trying to get through, sometimes even pushing and shoving. I’ve been stuck in that sea of people for a few precious minutes when I only needed to move less than 100 feet to get out. 

Teachers don’t appreciate late students, but the problem of crowded hallways has been used so many times to explain lateness that it’s just been accepted as a way of life. 

Undersized Classrooms and Core Spaces:

Many classrooms, especially in the older buildings, and core spaces (like the cafeteria) are severely undersized. As the weather gets colder, students move into the building from outdoor seating, but the cafeteria can’t fit them all. Even Some classrooms are 700 square feet or under while attempting to support up to 25 students.

I see this in my own English classroom in the main building, one of the oldest buildings of the school. The desks are packed so tightly together that we have to step over backpacks in the narrow spaces between them to get anywhere in the classroom. 

During lunch, the spaces inside and between the two cafeterias get very crowded. It becomes almost impossible to move without shoving your way ahead. This mass congestion of people can get claustrophobic and overwhelming. 

Heating and Cooling

Older classrooms are often hot and stuffy, especially during the summer, but sometimes even in colder months. I’ve experienced inconsistent heating and air conditioning where the same room went from hot and stuffy to cold in a matter of a few days. 

The warm temperatures can be irritating too. Teachers will open the door for relief, even though the hallways are a frequent source of noisy distraction.

The Best Option…

Is to build a new high school. 

Any in-place renovation/addition or phased construction will only be disruptive to students and does not address any of the space issues, which I think is the most prevalent problem at the school. Another band-aid slapped over the outdated school will only push costs into a future that will inevitably keep coming. 

Construction prices will continue to rise, the student body will continue to grow, and problems will continue to get more drastic. In the long run, a brand new high school now is the most cost-effective.