Bus

Academia students don’t use last names, instead using first names (written in katakana) and five digit student ID numbers.  (”Shiun’in” and “Mackfield” are fake names. In Academia tradition, Sora Shiun’in’s name would be rendered “ソラ#58273″ or something similar.)

Nicknames are fairly common within the Academia to quickly tell apart two students with the same name, usually based on traits or ID number.   Two students named Hanako may be determined by names like “Blondie” or “Seven”, depending on what catches on with their classmates.

As well, Academia duel disks are activated through a small RFID chip registered to each student.  These can open doors based on clearance within the Academia as well as tracking the locations of students.  Each Academia RFID chip is inserted into a student’s right hand upon registry to the system, usually around age 7, when training begins.

The name and number system is indeed an attempt by the administration to keep down individuality, but it also has the administrative benefit of making individual students easier to keep track of without spelling or kanji errors.

 Students view it as an equalizer; they are all part of the same family and no one is higher based on arbitrary family status.