Broward County’s faculty district is mulling over the potential of condensing the highschool class schedule to 4 days every week as a substitute of the customary 5. This consideration follows the success noticed at Pompano Seashore Excessive Faculty.
At its December 19 assembly, the board mentioned the thought.
At Pompano Seashore Excessive Faculty, college students spend Fridays doing internships, volunteering, mentoring college students at different colleges, taking programs optionally available programs reminiscent of SAT preparation, or taking part in extra-curricular actions, Principal Lisa Spencer informed the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
College students nonetheless attend the variety of hours required by the state every week, however they do this by going to highschool for greater than 8 ½ hours per day, as a substitute of the everyday seven hours for college students in different excessive colleges. The college has been utilizing this mannequin since 1997.
Pompano Excessive has been persistently A-rated by the state and is the one highschool in Broward to rank among the many state’s high 25 and the nation’s high 300, in line with U.S. Information & World Report’s listing of greatest excessive colleges.
“No matter they’re doing, regardless of the magic sauce is, we have to go there and see what that’s, as a result of it’s working,” Board Chairwoman Lori Alhadeff mentioned at a latest assembly.
“And college students wish to go to Pompano Seashore Excessive Faculty.”
Some board members skeptical
Some board members have been skeptical of implementing the schedule in any respect excessive colleges. They identified that Pompano Seashore’s file of excellence might not essentially be linked to its distinctive schedule.
“Pompano Seashore will not be a standard highschool,” Board member Debbi Hixon mentioned.
“It is just magnet and people college students are all excessive stage that come there to start with. They might in all probability be an A in the event that they go to highschool as soon as every week as a result of they’ve college students who’re excelling to start with.”
Some members mentioned they have been open to contemplating it at some colleges, reminiscent of one in every of the seven Faculty Board member districts.
Board member Dan Foganholi mentioned he’d be occupied with beginning a program in his district in southeast Broward. He mentioned the additional day may give struggling college students an opportunity to get further assist and different college students an opportunity to volunteer or get internships with the native enterprise neighborhood.
“Numerous the information goes to be slim once you’re being revolutionary,” he mentioned.
However different board members mentioned they’d wish to see extra knowledge in addition to get suggestions from dad and mom, academics, and principals. The district is anticipated to debate the proposal once more in February.
Learn: Broward County school year may start earlier next year
