As the school year ends, there is still a prevalent problem that needs addressing. The lack of privacy and functionality in the student bathrooms needs to be fixed before the first day of 2026-27 school year.

The privacy problems are especially present in the original parts of the school building that were built as the Kingwood High School freshman campus in 1994. The top of the stall door is only 60 inches off the ground. According to Stanford Medicine, the average 16-year-old is between 60-73 inches tall. That leads to an awkward experience for most students. It is very hard to relax and go to the bathroom when strangers and classmates could turn and see you at any moment. The Kingwood Middle School bathroom stalls are not even this short.

The problems though are more than just stall size, we have a variety of different sink faucets. Some spray water in all directions with the slightest turn. Others require a student to hold the faucet with one hand the entire time they wash their hands. And many require multiple pushes to keep water coming out to get through the recommended length of washing hands.

On top of these problems, finding an open available bathroom has become an issue for many with multiple bathrooms being locked completely. And finding stalls that actually lock is also a lurking problem.

These problems are easily fixable. New bathroom doors, sink faucets, and a little more care can provide students with a nicer and quicker bathroom experience.