SOMERSET ACADEMY VILLAGE K-8 PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL
Vape Detection Helps a K-8 School Proactively Protect Students and Facilities
Across the country, schools are facing increased concerns around student vaping, even at younger ages. For K-8 schools, the challenge is especially complex: vaping incidents may be less frequent than at large high schools, but even a single incident is unacceptable. At the same time, discreet devices, minimal odor, and privacy limitations in restrooms make detection difficult.
At Somerset Academy Village, a small K-8 school serving approximately 400 students, leadership sought a solution that could provide visibility and deterrence without relying on student reports, invasive searches, or constant staff monitoring. By deploying Zeptive’s wireless vape detectors, the school gained real-time insight without disrupting learning or student privacy.
School Background
Somerset Academy Village is a K-8 school with two classes per grade level and an enrollment of approximately 400 students. As an outdoor-style school, classrooms open directly to exterior walkways, creating a unique campus layout.
The Vaping Challenge
While vaping was not a daily occurrence at Somerset Academy Village, school leadership believes that when it comes to vaping and their student population: “I think one is one too many, especially with our age group.”
According to Patricia, detection was especially challenging because modern vape devices are small, discreet, and often resemble everyday objects such as USB drives or lip balm.
“...seeing what the kids were vaping, I would have never caught it because it looks like a flash drive USB stick,” Patricia explains.
FAST FACTS
CUSTOMER
Somerset Academy Village (K-8)
INDUSTRY
Education
GEOGRAPHY
Florida
DISTRICT SIZE
Approximately 400 students
THE ISSUE
Proactively deter student vaping and bathroom misbehavior in a K-8 setting.
RESULTS
Immediate deterrence after installation
Significant reduction in bathroom-related misbehavior
Increased awareness of after-hours smoking activity
BENEFITS
Fully wireless, privacy-safe solution
Vape, THC, noise, and tamper detection in one device
Real-time alerts and easy reporting
Strong customer support and ongoing feature updates
Why They Chose Zeptive
Somerset Academy Village is part of the Academica network, a large, highly connected group of schools that regularly shares information across campuses. When someone in a network group chat mentioned vape detectors, Patricia realized she had never even heard of them.
Patricia’s reaction was immediate. “I asked, ‘What’s a vape sensor?’ And then I thought, why don’t all of our schools have this?”
Within hours, she asked leadership for more information. Zeptive was recommended by peers within the network, and Patricia was quickly connected with Ryan from the Zeptive team.
There was no long evaluation process. Once she understood what the technology did, the decision felt obvious.
Implementation & Daily Use
Somerset Academy Village installed its first Zeptive devices in November. The installation was quick and non-invasive, requiring no wiring.“We got our first one in November. And honestly, it's been really, really helpful,” stated Patricia.Once the detector was active and they began reviewing reports, they realized Zeptive was providing much more visibility than expected.
They discovered the devices also included:
Noise detection
Tamper alerts
Suddenly, the school had a tool that filled a long-standing blind spot.
“That process right there is amazing. Because we have cameras, but obviously you can't have cameras in the bathroom. So I check the cameras the exact time of when we got the notification,” Patricia explains.
Looking Ahead
Somerset Academy Village plans to expand its use of Zeptive sensors, particularly to take advantage of upcoming features such as loitering alerts, occupancy insights, and additional environmental monitoring.
The school gained peace of mind, improved visibility into spaces that are traditionally difficult to monitor, and the ability to respond to student behavior more quickly and calmly. The sensors created a strong deterrent effect without escalating discipline or relying on invasive measures.
Perhaps most importantly, school leadership gained confidence that they were no longer missing issues happening just out of sight.
“It's nice peace of mind to have [vape detectors] in the bathroom,” Patricia shared.