Students at Hyde Park Academy High School in Chicago are speaking out after school officials removed the campus “Peace Room,” a space many say was essential for emotional support, conflict resolution, and student de-escalation, according to the Chicago Reader.
The move has sparked frustration among students and community members who argue the decision comes at a sensitive time for the school community. According to students, the Peace Room served as a quiet space where they could talk through conflicts, seek counseling support, or simply step away from stressful situations during the school day.
The concerns intensified following a town hall held on Wednesday, May 13, where students voiced frustration over what they described as a lack of resources and support within the school. During the meeting, students also referenced the emotional toll the campus has faced after the deaths of three Hyde Park Academy students within a single month, calling for stronger mental health support and more accessible intervention programs.
Many students say the Peace Room played a key role in helping them cope with grief, stress, and day-to-day challenges. Its removal, they argue, leaves a gap in support services at a time when they feel they are needed most.
The removal of the Peace Room and other student resources comes just weeks after Brandon Johnson signed the Peacebook Executive Order on April 27, creating a year-round Youth Peacekeeping Program aimed at reducing violence and supporting young people across Chicago.
The initiative allocates up to $900,000 for programming and the hiring of 50 part-time youth peacekeepers, who will help connect residents with community resources while receiving training in conflict resolution, de-escalation, and violence-intervention strategies.
Despite the city’s new investment in youth support programs, the Mayor’s Office declined to comment on the closure of the Peace Room inside Hyde Park Academy High School.
Community members and student advocates are now calling for continued dialogue, hoping the situation will push broader conversations about mental health services, school safety, and student wellness in Chicago schools.
As discussions continue, students say they want one clear message heard: support spaces inside schools are not optional—they are necessary.
