Harpeth middle, high school students prohibited from using zipper binders next school year

Students at Harpeth Middle and Harpeth High schools will no longer be permitted to use zipper binders or “trapper keeper”-style binders beginning with the 2026-27 school year, according to a new policy announced by the Cheatham County School District.

District officials said the change is intended to improve both safety and efficiency as students enter school buildings each day.

The announcement comes less than a year after Harpeth High School installed weapons detection scanners at its entrances as part of an expanded campus safety initiative. The system, implemented in October 2025, screens students and visitors as they enter the building while allowing common items such as cell phones, keys and coins to pass through without triggering an alert.

According to the district, zipper binders and enclosed organizational systems interfere with those weapons detection systems, slow entry procedures and create unnecessary delays for students and staff.

Under the new policy, students should instead use standard binders without zippers, folders, notebooks or other school-approved organizational tools.

When the scanners were first introduced, students were required to remove items such as laptops, three-ring binders, glasses cases, umbrellas and other metal objects from their backpacks before passing through security. District officials now say eliminating zipper binders altogether will further streamline the process and reduce backups at school entrances.

The district acknowledged the change may require families to purchase different school supplies before the start of the year and encouraged parents with questions to contact their child's school.

The new policy will apply to students attending Harpeth Middle School and Harpeth High School, as well as other middle and high schools across Cheatham County, as officials continue efforts to maintain a safe and efficient learning environment.