Grand Junction High School only has enough lockers for the freshman class.

The newly opened $144.5 million school building — which has 600 lockers — has a reported 1,780 attending students, according to GJHS Principal Jory Sorensen. Roughly 580 of these students are freshmen, according to GJHS registrar Radawna Clark-Bobbitt. 

Since there aren’t enough lockers to support every student, they were given to freshmen first. They will need the lockers the most out of everyone, according to Sorensen.

“We feel that the freshmen need the most support out of everyone. They don’t have a car and they’re all new. We think it’s best for them,” Sorensen said.

According to Sorensen, the Blythe Group contemplated eliminating lockers altogether. Blythe Group is the architectural firm that designed the new building. Very few students used lockers in the old building, despite having enough lockers for everyone. The compromise was to include 600 lockers in the new building for the students who would need them.

The school began reserving lockers for freshmen in August. All available lockers ran out within the first full week of school, according to Sorensen.

Student’s reactions have been divided; many students never use their lockers and prefer their backpacks. However, some students rely on lockers.

“I need to use these lockers. I can’t carry all these school supplies and textbooks around,” GJHS junior Landon Langston said.

Due to the shortage of school lockers, Sorensen has said that the school will check for freshmen who don’t use theirs. If they don’t, GJHS will give these lockers to students who ask for them.