Creating Safer Schools: Practical Security Improvements for Today’s High Schools

Creating Safer Schools: Practical Security Improvements for Today’s High Schools

Every parent, teacher, and school leader shares the same hope: that every student arrives at school feeling safe, and returns home feeling supported. High schools are places of learning, growth, and connection, but they also carry complex responsibilities when it comes to physical safety.

In my work with schools across the region, I’ve seen how much care is poured into education and student well-being. But I’ve also seen how often the physical security infrastructure is simply outdated or stretched thin. Not by choice, but by circumstance.

This article explores a few of the most common challenges I see, and how simple, practical improvements can make a meaningful difference, often without major cost or disruption.

What I Often See in High Schools

Security in high schools is rarely ignored — but it is often improvised. Some common patterns include:

• CCTV systems installed years ago that no longer cover high-traffic or sensitive areas

• Doors left propped open for staff convenience or deliveries, without being actively monitored

• No clear process for knowing who is on campus at any given moment

• Keys and access cards circulating among former staff, substitutes, or cleaning contractors

• Busy staff doubling as first responders, with no clear support or response structure

In each case, the school is doing the best it can, but the system isn't set up to support them.

Why These Gaps Matter

These challenges are not just about theft or vandalism. They touch on:

• Student safeguarding

• After-hours risks, especially in shared-use buildings

• Liability concerns when something goes wrong

• The mental load placed on teachers and administrators

When a visitor walks in unnoticed, when a vulnerable student slips out without being seen, or when an emergency arises and no one knows which gate is open, the cost is more than just operational.

How we Help

At Point Five Consulting, I work directly with schools to gently and respectfully assess how their current physical security systems are performing. I am not a hardware salesperson and I do not push major system replacements.

Instead, I offer a structured assessment and tailored recommendations. The goal is to:

• Help schools make the most of what they already have

• Identify silent vulnerabilities that can be fixed with small changes

• Reduce the burden on staff while supporting a calm, safe environment

The process is straightforward and non-disruptive. I visit the school, listen to your needs, look at your setup, and provide a clear, practical report you can act on, whether that means improving camera placement, updating key handling procedures, or introducing a simple visitor log.

Why It Matters

Schools should feel safe. Not just because there are locks and alarms, but because the systems in place actually work and the people running them feel supported.

Improving physical security in a high school is not about installing more cameras. It is about aligning your environment with your values: care, awareness, and community protection.

If you’re responsible for managing a high school site and would like an independent, grounded perspective on your current setup, I’d be happy to talk.

No pressure. Just a conversation about safety and how to quietly improve it.