With four schools now closed, one middle and three elementary, the Lansing School District has a whole new look and feel this year.
Here's how everything breaks down for students, staff, teachers and administrators: there are now 12 Pre-K through 3rd grade schools, five 4th through 6th grade schools and three high schools which contain 7th through 12th grade students.
It's a move that Superintendent Y'vonne Caamal Canul says will create college and career ready 7th and 8th graders.
"You get those high school teachers that are specialized in those content areas, we just believe this is the best route for our seventh and eighth graders," said Canul.
And students say they are excited for the move.
"It's pretty cool, had a nice good day. It was awesome, beats going to a middle school," said 8th grader Joseph Ketchum. "I think it's a pretty good experience for me, getting to know the bigger guys and learning new stuff like pre-algebra and things."
Parents on the other hand, say they need more convincing.
"I don't agree with it. I think they should still be in middle school. High school is for older kids, ninth tenth, eleventh and twelve, Too many kids in the school," said Chad Davis, father of a 9th grader. "I think it's sad that we have lost so many students, that we have had to do this, I hope it works out."
Cindy brush is not so optimistic. Her son is now an eighth grade student at Eastern High School--something she still can't understand.
"They have the money and the funding to fix those other schools and that's what they need to do, now they are building walls in Eastern to keep the big guys away from our little kids, I'm not for it," said Brush.
And Brush says if Lansing doesn't make some changes, she will take her kid out of the district.
