As we begin the 2023-2024 school year, much of Apex High has remained the same as previous years, but there have been some changes. One major change is the new policy regarding off campus lunch passes. 

In years past, all juniors and seniors were allowed the opportunity to purchase an off campus lunch pass for ten dollars, with permission from a parent or guardian. This pass allows students the opportunity to leave campus during their forty minute lunch. Students with cars on campus often drive to nearby restaurants to purchase food, such as Tropical Smoothie and Chick-fil-A, while others choose to walk to closer locations, such as Bojangles. Some students are even able to drive to their nearby homes. 

This year, things are a bit different. At the start of the year, all juniors and seniors are eligible to purchase an off-campus lunch pass with their parent or guardian’s permission, just like the past. However, students can have their lunch pass revoked by the school. At the end of each quarter, the school will issue new passes to students. Students who are failing two or more classes or students who have more than ten unexcused absences will not receive a new pass, which prohibits them from leaving campus during lunch. These students will be put on a probationary period and will be given five weeks to improve their grades or attendance in order to earn their pass back. If they are not able to improve their grades or attendance during this period, they will lose the lunch pass for the remainder of the semester. 

The reason behind this change is relatively simple. One cannot receive a proper education if they are failing their classes or lacking in attendance. Off-campus lunch passes are a privilege that must be earned by all students in the classroom. Some students have pointed out that there is an added bonus. The school provides a new pass each quarter to qualifying students, meaning if a student loses their lunch pass, they will receive a new one at the end of the quarter, for free. In previous years, replacement passes carried a fee of five dollars. 

Despite the fact that students are not used to having a strict lunch pass policy, most seem to be in agreement with it. Senior Maddie Hutto says, “I think the new lunch pass policy is necessary. Honestly the policy gives you a lot of breathing room. I think going off for lunch is a privilege, and there needs to be rules around it.” Another anonymous student thinks the concept of the policy is good but fears it will not hold up throughout the year. They said, “It’s a good way to help keep up grades, but I’m not sure it will work out.”

Going off campus for lunch is a right of passage for upperclassmen that students look forward to from the start of their freshman year, but this privilege now must be maintained through good grades and attendance. This policy has never been enacted at Apex before, so only time will tell how successful it will be.