Today, metal and weapons detectors at school entrances are a common sight. Schools across the country have implemented these systems in order to keep students safe by keeping weapons and other harmful items out.
Evolv Technology offers these security systems to many schools, including those in DeKalb County. The Evolv machines, contrary to popular belief, are not only metal detectors but rather AI-based weapons detection systems that flag items for administrators to manually inspect according to Evolv Technology. In addition to the use of various sensors that can detect metallic and non-metallic threats, the new scanners employ AI to analyze the data from the sensors and video camera and alert when a likely threatening item is present.
Recently, DeKalb County has been revamping the weapons detection systems in its schools. Chamblee High School Assistant Principal Mr. Evan Chapman described the change that CHS students just witnessed on February 24, 2026.
“We call them weapons detection,” said Mr. Chapman. “They’re add-ons. They’re x-ray machines that go on to the existing Evolv [machines].”
Officer Umar Abdul-Alim described exactly how these x-ray machines function.
“In the morning, you come in on one side, put your bag up, and it automatically feeds to the other side. It’s an x-ray machine, so if the machine flags a bag, it will come up on the [monitoring] screen. When you tap the screen, it shows exactly what is in the bag,” said Officer Abdul-Alim.
The previous metal detectors were not widely popular among CHS students for various reasons.
“[The metal detectors] are an inconvenience,” said Lucas Frankel (‘26). “I have to take out my Chromebook, my binder, my water bottle, and I have to lay it all out and then pack it back up at the table. It takes so much time.”
Many cite the extra time in the morning that the weapons detectors add as their main gripe.
“If there were no [metal] detectors… I could get to class on time,” said Bryce Gordon (‘26). “All those minutes count. I don’t want to have detention.”
However, Mr. Chapman stated that the new weapons detection add-on is likely to save students time in the mornings.
“Students will not have to take out anything in their backpacks anymore [with the new system],” said Mr. Chapman. “You don’t have to take out water bottles, glasses cases, umbrellas—that stays in your bag. Your bag goes through the machine, and it will say [if] we need to look at it, [or if] we don’t. It should speed up everything.”
Admittedly, the time it takes in the mornings hasn’t completely been cut down as much as initially thought.
“It is a lot faster. We still have a group [of students] that’s normally outside when the bell rings, but everything flows faster and it is more efficient. We’re still working out the kinks, but as kids adjust, it will go a lot faster,” said Officer Abdul-Alim.
Even with the new weapons detectors, some students still believe that they are unnecessary to ensure students’ safety.
“I think [the new weapons detectors] could be a waste of money,” said Gordon. “[The school] could spend money on something better, like funding better activities, and purchasing [supplies] for classrooms and sports teams.”
Some students have also noticed that the current weapons detectors flag seemingly random or innocuous items as potential threats, which may cause them to doubt the efficacy of the new system.
“I absolutely hate the [metal] detectors because they pick and choose the days [they work properly],” said Addison Morris (‘27). “I walk through every day with the same things, and sometimes it goes off, and others it doesn’t.”
However, many students also understand the need for weapons detectors in schools, even if they might not seem to work 100% of the time.
“I think the [weapons] detectors are very good for our school because even if [they give us] a false sense of security, it’s still a sense of security,” said Talia Rubel (‘27). “You walk into school feeling at least a little bit confident that you’re safe.”
Keeping students safe is a school’s priority, but striking a balance between safety and privacy can be difficult.
“I’m not sure what else [the school] could do [to keep us safe] that wouldn’t be super authoritarian,” said Frankel. “I don’t want them looking through everything in my bag; I don’t want to bring a clear backpack. We don’t want to have too much freedom to bring something dangerous, but we don’t want to have too much control that makes us hate every morning.”
Overall, many students still understand the reasons that schools have implemented weapon detection systems.
“[The weapons detectors] might be annoying and… they might not even work half the time, but I still think that they’re here for a reason,” said Rubel. “I feel like we need them… and I’m happy that the school values our safety.”
