Hingham High School has decided to increase the prices of parking placards for the next school year, 2025-2026. This school year, 2024-2025, parking ticket prices were $20 for far lot and $80 for close lot. Unfortunately, due to budgeting, the High School has decided to increase the prices to $125 for far lot and $225 for close lot. This change totals for a 625% increase in ticket price for far lot and a 281% increase in placard price for close lot. These extreme price increases have worried many students who typically drive to school.
Students have begun to discuss this price increase and have feelings and comments about the change. Junior Ella O’Neil explained, “I think the price increase is a little overwhelming. I understand that the school may need to increase the prices but the extent to which they are increasing them is very extreme.” Additionally, junior Arianna Sood noted, “There are a number of students who are not offered a bus but their walk to school is far. For example, one of my friends is not offered a bus but it would take about 30 minutes for her to walk to school. This walk would be pretty brutal to have to make especially when it’s snowing or raining and so she typically drives to school. Therefore, I find the extreme price increase a little bit nerve-racking, especially for the students who have to walk to school since they are not offered a bus.”
Additionally, some juniors are worried about the price increase taking away senior privileges that many students look forward to. Junior Carolyn Downey commented, “The increased parking tickets are making many students frustrated. I have heard many of my peers not only talking about just the increase of price but also the fact that some kids may not be able to pay for close lot anymore. This will take away the senior privilege of being able to park close to the school which many of my peers have been looking forward to since freshman year.”
With all this being said, it is clear that many of the students are disappointed with the price increase. Students recognize and understand that due to budgeting, the school may need to increase the prices of parking placards. However, it seems to be the extreme percent increase of the prices that is frustrating students. It will be interesting to see how the prices play out next year and if the school sticks to the plan of increasing the price of far lot tickets by 625% and the price of close lot tickets by 281%.
