Common Ground: Which Grade has the Best Commons?

Chelsea ’30

April 13, 2026

Every grade here at the Academy has a commons. But which one is the very best? I’m going to visit all seven and give my honest opinion. Please keep in mind that I’m an 8th grader. I’ll be making my decisions based on four factors: cleanliness, comfort, location, and decor. I’ll state what the commons does best, ranking the commons that shine in each of the four categories, and, lastly, ranking all of them from worst to best, with one overall winner.

6th-grade commons:

The 6th-grade commons ranks well in cleanliness, as the only things out of place were a couple of stray pencils. Though this commons has high potential, there is an immense lack of seating, with only two small couches available for approximately 150 students. While I can commend the efforts of maintenance, as they’ve replaced the old, torn, and broken couches, this commons left much to be desired. As for location, it’s an adequate and accessible location for the sixth graders because their classes are nearby. However, their commons is located in the middle, surrounded by lockers, so it’s ranked lower as its location isn’t great.

Lastly, for decor, the personal student-made drawings were lovely.

Ratings:

Cleanliness: 8/10

Comfort: 4/10

Location: 5/10

Decor 7/10

7th-grade commons:

This commons ranks well in terms of its decor. Many teachers hang up their students’ work, giving the entire commons fresh pops of color. The teachers themselves also pitch into the overall aesthetic with Mr. Fazio’s banners and Ms. Trevizo’s door skull. The commons’ cleanliness, on the other hand, isn’t so lovely, with trash and lost homework strewn across the commons. It is important to mention that some of this trash is due to the Clash of Classes, in which the 7th grade was disqualified from participating in the decorating week. The number of couches is inadequate for the number of students who use the commons. This commons ranks the same as the sixth grade in terms of location; they are quite similar. It’s important to note that they likely have a slightly shorter walking time to East Campus than the sixth graders, but this wasn’t factored into the ratings. I also dislike the exact location of the commons being in the center of the building.

Ratings:

Cleanliness: 5/10

Comfort: 6/10

Location: 5/10

Decor: 8/10

8th-grade commons:

The 8th-grade commons ranks well in terms of comfort, but not comparable to the comfort of the Sophomore commons. There are enough couches for a reasonable number of students, though the couches have been aesthetically destroyed. However, based on other criteria, this commons honestly falls short. In terms of cleanliness, food containers are commonly left (though not seen in the picture), and there are normally a couple of misplaced items left at all times. It’s in an okay location. I do have to say I prefer commons located near exits, with easy access to many locations, and on upper floors, so that’s partly why it scored lower. What I would say the 8th-grade commons could improve on the most is the decor. It’s very plain, with only a couple of posters and a bookshelf with games no one uses. It is also worth mentioning that half the couches no longer have legs, meaning they are on the floor, and they are also very torn up, which worsens the overall aesthetic.

Ratings:

Ratings: Cleanliness: 6/10

Comfort: 7/10

Location: 5/10

Decor: 5/10

Freshman Commons:

This commons ranks the best in terms of cleanliness. Of all the commons I visited, I found this one to have the best overall cleanliness, as I didn’t notice any significant trash or misplaced items. This commons also has a large quantity of seating options, making it more comfortable for the freshmen. The decor is very basic, with not much to note. The location is also, in my opinion, the worst of all the commons. Located on the bottom floor of McKinnon in the back makes it inconvenient to arrive at and from classes.

Ratings:

Cleanliness: 9/10

Comfort:7/10

Location:4/10

Decor:5/10

Sophomore Commons:

This commons ranks best in terms of comfort. Similar to other commons, it has endless couches, but it also has more chairs than the freshman or junior commons. The decor, on the other hand, is a bit lacking. Nothing strikes my eye, especially the green couch that matches none of the other couches. Its cleanliness is good, with not a lot of trash in sight, and a couple of misplaced items here and there. Its location is good, but incomparable to that of the Junior commons seeing as it’s located on the bottom floor.

Ratings:

Cleanliness: 7/10

Comfort:9/10

Location: 8/10

Decor:5/10

Junior Commons:

This commons ranks best in location, being on the top floor of Brown Hall. It’s easy to access both the top and bottom floors, the parking lot, and Simms Auditorium. It’s also comfortable, having no shortage of seating and comfy places to hang out. In counting, this commons boasts a total of three armchairs, nine couches, and various other tables and chairs. The decor, on the other hand, is a little lackluster, with one lonesome map on the wall. Its cleanliness is adequate, though I do think the Juniors could do a better job of not leaving their belongings in the commons.

Ratings:

Cleanliness: 7/10

Comfort: 8/10

Location: 9/10

Decor: 4/10

Senior Commons:

This commons ranks the best in terms of decor. A ping-pong table and TV are accessible to all the seniors. I’d also like to mention that the tiny potted plants found on the window sills are a nice touch. The comfort is pleasant, with many choices for comfortable seating arrangements and places to put things. The decor and comfort make it a premier spot to hang out and relax. Unfortunately, this also leads to trash. Despite the three trash cans found around the area, trash manages to find a place on tables, the floor, and the couches. The location is decent, with easy access to Brown Hall, Simms Auditorium, and the music building, making passing periods easier by reducing walking time. Overall, it’s a well-rounded commons, though the cleanliness could be better.