CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) -
Myers Park High School had to add another lunch period this year.
The school now has five lunch periods instead of four. They last about 25 minutes each.
The district says adding another lunch period is not because of overcrowding. It was to make things run more efficient.
The district says the added lunch period makes lunch lines go faster and prevents a lot of students from being in the cafeteria at the same time.
Students say even with the added lunch time, there are still overcrowded conditions.
"It's like very crowded," Myers Park HS Freshman Lucie Silver said. "And there is no room for you to sit. Sometimes I am looking around and most of the time I don't have a place to sit."
Last year nearly 3,000 students attended Myers Park HS. The district has not released enrollment numbers for this year. Parents think the school is overcrowded.
"My son compares it to an ant farm when class is dispersed," Myers Park HS parent Peter Feldman said. " 'cause there are kids just coming from everywhere."
Feldman is concerned about what a large student population means for the classroom.
"I feel sorry for the kids," Feldman said. "Because I don't know if they are going to be getting what they need - it's too crowded."
Silver agrees. She has about 40 students in some of her classes. She fears her teacher has so many students to teach, she may get left behind when it comes to her classwork.
"There's people (students) asking one question," Silver said. "And then another and I am trying to figure out when it's my turn to talk".
Feldman thinks if things get more crowded, the school may have to do something for the sake of the students.
"The kids have to come first," the father said. "And a lot of the times I don't see that."
Charlotte - Mecklenburg school district says relief may come for some overcrowded classrooms.
The teacher shuffle will soon take place.
That means teachers from empty schools could be transferred to overcrowded schools to make things better.
The district is still analyzing that information.
