The classrooms are more crowded; the hallways seem fuller than before.

These two realities were among the first things returning students noticed at the start of the school year.

Last Tuesday, students noticed something else new: additional lockers appeared in the main hallway on the first floor.

“Our school grows each year.  Now we have [interdistrict school] choice, Waterford, Folsom, and students who transfer from other districts all under one roof. We needed more lockers,” said Mr. Max Ruiz, the truancy officer who handles locker assignments.  With the exception of new transfers to the district, Ruiz said that numbers are pretty stable now.

Ruiz had a challenge this year: almost not having enough lockers.

“While I was doing lockers assignments this year I realized I was running low on lockers.  I only had four left for the entire school district.  So, we spoke to Mr. Ramsay, who got the approval from administration , and we had the new lockers delivered.  We had 1433 lockers; now we have over 1500,” he said.

At the time of press, 1455 students are actively at the high school. This number has been increasing each year since the school had all for grade levels in the new building.  In 2003, the school hosted 1288 active students.

Hammonton’s status as a choice school also adds to the discussion. According to the New Jersey Department of Education website, the interdistrict school choice program increases educational opportunities for students and their families by providing students  with school options outside of their district of residence and giving parents  the power to select a school program that best serves their child’s individual needs.

The number of students from outside the district is determined by both school administration and the state, according to Assistant Superintendent Robin Chieco.

“Dr. Blachford meets with the principal and asks about the amount of open seats the school has.  Then the state decides how many choice students are taken on based on the number of seats allotted,” she said.

The additional lockers are not necessarily an indication that more students are enrolling at the moment.  However, they are a sign that the school is expanding as the student population continues to grow.