Scarsdale High School Students Navigate New Phone Policy

The start of the school year is always a buzz at Scarsdale High School (SHS): new classes, meeting teachers, making new friends, and this year, a statewide phone ban that has been stirring up quite the debate.|

Under New York’s new ban, all Scarsdale students are now prohibited from using cell phones during school hours (with the exception of teachers requiring cell phone use for class-time activities). What used to be a highly popular electronic tool for music, messaging, and scheduling throughout the school day is now expected to remain entirely out of sight. While the law aims to reduce distractions and promote face-to-face learning, Scarsdale High School students are divided. Some see it as a needed reset with positive outcomes, while others are calling it a communication crisis.

We spoke to three SHS students, all high school tennis players of varying ages with unique perspectives on how the ban is shaping their school life.|

“This Isn’t Helping. It’s Making Things Worse”

For Sophomore Keila Patel, who’s been a part of the Scarsdale school system since elementary school, the phone ban feels like an overcorrection.
“I think that it is a very bad idea,” she states. “No one really abused the old phone rules. Phones stayed in the caddy during class, but we could use them during lunch and free periods. I think it worked well.”

Now, under the new ban, she worries that the drastic shift will actually encourage rule-breaking, and therefore contradicting its purpose. “It’s so extreme that I think more students will try to get around it.”

Beyond policy, Keila points to logistical issues, especially given SHS’s huge campus and packed student schedules. “Lunchtime communication will be so inconvenient. It’s a big school, so how are we supposed to coordinate with friends or group meetings?”

As a varsity athlete, Keila also emphasizes the effect that the ban will have on school sports. “Matches are often rescheduled last minute. Coaches rely on texting or quick updates, and this ban breaks that communication link.”

“It Could Actually Make Us Smarter, If It Lasts” 

Sophomore Sophia Fox Khodri, who joined the Scarsdale school system in 7th grade after moving from abroad, sees the phone ban through a different lens.

“I believe it’ll create a positive impact,” she says. “It pushes us to be more social and less reliant on AI tools like ChatGPT, and we can focus on thoroughly learning the class material.”

While she acknowledges the usefulness of cell phones, especially in emergencies, Sophia believes the ban might teach a deeper lesson. “Phones are both a distraction and a tool. It depends on the student. But if we’re constantly glued to them, we miss out on real interactions.”
Still, she remains realistic about the future of the policy. “But I don’t think it’ll last. Students are already figuring out how to sneak phones into the bathrooms without teachers noticing.”

While she sees the potential for more social interaction and growth, she also offers a cautionary note. “Banning phones could backfire. It might actually increase bad behavior. I feel that students may rebel against the ban, leading to bad behavior and therefore, disciplinary actions.”

“I Understand, But It’s Still Frustrating”


As a newcomer to SHS, freshman SHS freshman Jiya enters high school already familiar with an “off and away” phone policy from middle school. However, the high school version, she says, is a different game.

“The middle school had rules, but the high school is way bigger. More students, more clubs, and more sports. I feel that students need their phones sometimes just to stay organized.”

While she agrees that phones can be distracting, she also believes many students are capable of managing their devices responsibly. “Some people definitely need the structure. But others are able to use their phones wisely for homework, schedules, reminders, and communication.”
Jiya notes that transitioning from middle to high school under this policy likely won’t shock her peers socially as they are already used to being apart from their cell phones during school hours, and recognizes both the positives and negative aspects of the phone policy.

The Bigger Picture

Scarsdale High School is known for its academic rigor and highly engaged students. The phone ban touches not just students’ day-to-day lives and convenience, but also deeper questions: What role should technology play in our learning? Are broader rules fair for all students, or should responsibility be handled on a case-by-case basis?

What’s clear is that the policy has already shifted the rhythm of daily life at SHS, from how students coordinate their lunch plans, to how they check in with coaches, teachers, and parents. Whether this policy sticks firm or sparks quiet rebellion behind doors remains to be seen.

For now, the student body is learning to navigate a new school life.