By Thomas Smith
Rotating schedules for high school students create opportunities for students to maximize natural learning preferences but can also cause confusion and complexity for busy students who excel with a rigid structure.
Ponte Vedra High School has seven class periods, ranging from 46 to 49 minutes. The day starts at 9:20 and ends at 3:50, except for Wednesdays when schools release an hour early. Students today take the courses every day with the same schedule every day. A rotating schedule would maintain the same class time every day, but would rotate the time of day; for example – Monday would start with class 1 at 9:20 and end with class 7, Tuesday would start with class 2 at 9:20 and end with class 1, Wednesday would start with class 3 and end with class 2 and so on.
Studies done by Colombia State University say that students perform better during their preferred time. For example, if a student is s a morning person then the class periods early in the day lead to increased engagement create the potential for better grades in morning classes compared to afternoon courses.
Lily Doyle, a junior at Ponte Vedra High School said, “I am a morning person for sure, and I would say that my grades reflect that.” Doyle takes 7 periods on campus and maintains A’s and B’s in all her classes. She has one B, in AP Language, fifth period. “I’m always tired in the early afternoon,” Doyle continued.
Research done by Unlocking Time confirmed that students naturally learn better at various times of day, and rotations allow students to access all courses at their peak learning time.
The biggest issue with the rotating schedules at Ponte Vedra High School would be the modified schedule. Students have the option of a modified schedule where one can take online courses from off campus or no class at all. These students will either take periods off the start of the day or the end of the day. For example Kate Pelot (11), only has periods one through five on campus, therefore she cannot have a rotating schedule because she could not skip periods in the middle of the day.
Mr. Maynard, sophomore English teacher mentioned his thoughts on rotating schedules. “I like the consistency of the schedule we practice today, seven periods in the same order.”
“I’m sure I would forget what is due in a class if my schedule changed every day.”
Chase Kendall (10)
By the seventh period everyone is tired and ready to leave, resulting in seventh period classes getting less attention and lower grades.
The rotation is not a great fit for all students.
Curren Davis, sophomore said, “The idea of a rotating schedule is interesting, but I feel as though it would be confusing and throw me off.”
High school students often have busy schedules, and the standard day structure maintains a constant cadence that a rotation could disrupt.
“I’m sure I would forget what is due in a class if my schedule changed every day,” said Chase Kendall sophomore.
St. Johns County school district leaders have not considered rotating schedules for Ponte Vedra High School.
Pictured: A photo of Nease High School’s rotating schedule
