Until now, Mays' seniors attended the school atop the hill. This year's relocation to a temporary facility while the original building is renovated brought a big change of scenery.


The original school building, located on Benjamin E. Mays Dr., is in the heart of the fairly well-off Cascade community. The temporary facility, located on Perry Boulevard in the old Archer High School building, is in the center of a community in decline.

“This building is atrocious,” Jared Sullivan, a senior on the football team, said of his first impression.

Some students claim that the old, closed-in appearance of the school is a negative aspect of the new location. Others said they think there are some advantages to the new school.

“There are enough classrooms for the people [students] to be spaced out,” said Gina Price, a senior in the Mathematics and Science Academy.

Despite the advantage, Price said that was outweighed by the disadvantage.
“But the hallways are too small and crowded,” she said.

Many students faced drastic changes in their regular school day routines, especially in terms of getting to and from school.

“It’s a longer commute to school,” said student Aryana Brantley.

Some other students expressed similar opinons.

“There’s more traffic, and a new environment to adapt to,” said senior Shanicia Hill.



Another element to the relocation of the school is that the Small Learning Communities are physically separated this school year. The Math and Science, Mass Communication, Eagle Leadership Academy, Business and Entrepreneurship, Public Affairs and Administration, and the new Dorothy Height Academy of Leadership are all on separate hallways, with their own classrooms, teachers, and resources.

Some students said they are unhappy about the new system.

“I feel it’s a little too much and should not have been done that way. The separation makes me feel uncomfortable because everyone should be able to learn with different communities,” said student Robin Colton.

Seniors have strong opinions about the change. Many were excited about becoming seniors, but in the Mays building that they called home.

“The move made things unorganized. It’s my senior year at a random building,” said Ebone’ Williams.

Some are wondering why the move happened in the first place.

Teachers, students, and parents were informed prior to the move that Mays was to be renovated to provide better and more efficient facilities to its students. The school on Perry Boulevard is to serve as a temporary facility for two years while the renovations take place.

Regardless of the proposed long-term benefits, students still seem unhappy about the move.

Some still have an optimistic view on the situation and said they think that others should as well.

“You have to embrace all of the obstacles that life throws at you. The only thing we can do now is make the best of our new location, and enjoy our senior year,” said Brantley.