Palo Alto High School informed students and their families of a new parking situation for the 2026-2027 school year over the summer — the Churchill parking lot would be closed due to construction, and juniors would no longer be allowed to purchase parking permits. 

On Tuesday, Sept. 8, the Palo Alto Police Department began enforcing parking rules in Palo Alto High School’s parking lots. If a student parks in the lot without a permit, they are now susceptible to getting a citation for around $50. After the first semester, Palo Alto High administration will reevaluate the parking situation, possibly introducing a lottery opportunity for juniors to purchase parking permits. 

Palo Alto High junior Vedika Agarwal said she was very frustrated when she learned of the new information.

“If you look at the lot right now, there’s still plenty of space,” Agarwal said. “The fact that [many juniors] have to wait for a potential lottery or until next year is really unfair.”

Agarwal also noted the added difficulty for juniors like her whose parents are not available to drive them to school.

“My mom works nights at the hospital and my dad’s office is in San Jose, so there are mornings when I have to figure out last-minute transportation,” Agarwal said. “[The parking permit system] is already a point of stress in my family because now we have to plan [our driving schedules] around my school times.”

Now, however, Agarwal must seek out a friend or other ride to make it to class on time, a situation she said is both stressful and time-consuming.

Although senior Ashlyn Zeman was able to get a permit, she understands the toll this will have on the juniors after experiencing firsthand how convenient driving to school can be. 

“I can see how it [banning juniors from buying parking permits] wouldn’t negatively impact people who live in town and could just bike, but I live in Mountain View,” Zeman said. “The school should at least have some policy for them [students who live out of town].”

Even though the majority of parking-related stress has been experienced by the juniors of Palo Alto High, Zeman recognizes the extra hassle for seniors like herself who live closest to the Churchill parking lot and now have to park on the other side of campus. 

Before the system change, Zeman said she could go straight home from her track practice, but now, having to walk across campus in the evening after sport is a common frustration for her and student-athletes alike. 

“[Student-athletes] shouldn’t have to be trekking across campus, especially late at night and in the winter when it’s dark and could be potentially dangerous,” Zeman said.

Both Zeman and Agarwal believe that the new system disregards the needs of a certain student population, and Agarwal strongly expressed her dissent towards this system, saying that it is unfair and should be first-come, first-served instead.

“If you want me to come to school, don’t fine me $50 for trying to get myself there,” Agarwal said.