Use the Stairs to Reach the School's Working Floors
For School cleanup, use the stairs to reach the floors with rooms to clean, then focus on the corridors, classrooms, gym, and red lockers rather than continuing up the apparently repeating upper staircase described by players. Stop sprinting before entering a hallway: the principal prohibits running in corridors but explicitly exempts stairs.
What Players Found on the Upper Staircase
Players describe the upper stairwell as extremely long and apparently repeating. In the Steam stairwell discussion, a player reported reaching floor 380 without finding an ending, Sparrow, or furniture collectible, while another reported stopping after floor 100. Those are player observations, and neither establishes an official final floor.
For a cleanup run, turn back when you are simply continuing up the repeating staircase. Put your next search into the School's hallways, classrooms, gym, and red lockers, where the practical cleanup route takes you. If you have already climbed far above those areas, allow extra time for the descent before starting another search.
Follow the Principal's Running Rule
The principal's sign states: “Running is prohibited in the corridors. The stairs are not counted.” In Normal or Hardcore, release Sprint before leaving the staircase for a corridor, because running in the hallway can trigger the principal. Cozy permits running.
Make releasing Sprint part of every transition from stairs to hallway. Sprinting through a School corridor can cost your current day's progress on Normal difficulty. If you keep getting caught here, check your movement as you leave the stairs before blaming the end-of-shift darkness.
Work Through the School Cleanup Route
- Buy the €60 School key to unlock the second door on the left of the central Playroom.
- Enter the School through that door to begin checking its ordinary floors and adjoining rooms.
- Clear visible balls along a floor's corridors first, walking between the rooms so you avoid the corridor running trigger.
- Search the classrooms and gym as part of your cleanup pass, giving those areas attention before returning to the upper stairwell.
- Open the red lockers after clearing the visible corridor balls to expose balls hidden inside them.
- Recheck classroom corners when the School's remaining count stays above zero, covering the smaller places missed during the main collection pass.
- Use the Scanner for remaining obscured balls when the area looks empty, giving your next search a specific target.
Check the Collectibles Near the Cleanup Areas
- Wall Clock: look beneath the first stairs at floor 0. Turn underneath the staircase and look up at the wall for the round white clock, then examine it and take it.
- Copper Icosahedron: check an upper locker on floor 1. Look for the copper-coloured open geometric object on the shelf, then examine it and take it to complete the pickup.
- Locker Sparrow: inspect the right-side locker near the principal. Look inside and check the upper shelf for the bird, then confirm its Collect interaction before moving on.
- Classroom Sparrow: check the dark classroom with the projector. Search the wooden desks and benches, using your flashlight to inspect the surfaces, then confirm Collect when you find the bird.
Collectibles need their own interactions as you pass through these areas. Opening the locker does not collect the Copper Icosahedron, and visiting a Sparrow's hiding place does not rescue the bird. Check for the appropriate Examine or Collect interaction before considering that find finished.
Make Scattered School Balls Easier to Collect
The Hand Vacuum becomes available after purchasing the School key and costs €50. It helps with scattered balls around classrooms and lockers, making it useful once the obvious piles are gone. Check your budget before buying it if you are also saving for the next area key.
Remember to empty the Hand Vacuum's tank at a collection pit. Balls contribute to a pit when deposited, so carrying a load away from the School is only part of that delivery. Choose whether you are checking loose balls, delivering a load, or collecting a decoration before deciding where to go next.
Return Down the Entrance Staircase
- Finish your current search while you still have enough time for the return, leaving further exploration for another shift.
- Walk through the School corridors toward the entrance staircase, keeping Sprint released wherever the principal's corridor restriction applies.
- Descend the entrance staircase toward the central Playroom to follow the practical route out of the School.
- Return to your starting room before the lights go out, allowing for the journey beyond the School itself.