School Schedule Comparison

Last updated November 12, 2003

The following schedules are reviewed:

The 4x4
The Traditional 6 Period
The Traditional 7 Period
The Modified Block 6 Period Type 1 (1 day with 6 short periods, 4 days with 3 long periods)
The Modified Block 6 Period Type 2 (3 days with 6 short periods, 2 days with 3 long periods)

Schedule Type Schools in the Area Advantages Disadvantages

4x4

(The same 4 courses each day, 5 days a week. Traditional yearlong courses are condensed into a calendar semester - 18 weeks.)

Jackson HS
Sammamish HS

Only 4 courses at a time for students to manage.
Students' perception that less homework is a good thing.
It is simple since each day is the same and easy for Special Needs' students to remember.
Teachers only teach 3 courses per semester. They see fewer students on this schedule than other schedules.
Administration benefit. Very few class changing times when students sometimes get into trouble.
Long, 85 minute, periods to delve into complex topics.

Only 77% of the instruction time as a traditional 6 period schedule for each 1 credit course (127 hours instead of 165 hours).
A year's worth of material is claimed to be covered in a calendar semester but is rarely the case.
Long breaks (8-13 months) between important sequential courses such as Math and World Languages. Students forget during these breaks and teachers must spend considerable time reviewing.
More schedule conflicts. With only 4 periods many students cannot obtain their desired schedule.
Band students often have to drop out of band to take other courses since band can take up to 25% of a student's education.
Students perform worse on exams that test a year's worth of material such as the National AP Exams.
None of the top schools in the area are on this schedule.

Traditional 6

(The same 6 courses each day, 5 days a week. Traditional yearlong courses are a year long - 36 weeks)

Cascade HS
Everett HS
Lake Washington HS

Each period (each course) has equal time 55 minutes a day.
It is simple since each day is the same and easy for Special Needs students.
1/2 credit semester length courses are available.

Not enough time for Science labs.
Not enough time to delve into complex topics.
Students must manage 6 courses at a time.

Traditional 7

(The same 7 courses each day, 5 days a week. Traditional yearlong courses are a year long - 36 weeks)

Bellevue HS

Each period (each course) has equal time 46 minutes a day.
It is simple since each day is the same and easy for Special Needs students.
1/2 credit semester length courses are available.

Only 84% of the instruction time as a 6 period schedule. Almost as bad as the 4x4 in this regard.
Not enough time for Science labs.
Students must manage 7 courses at a time.

Mod Block 6 Type 1

(1 day with 6 short periods, 4 days with 3 long periods. Traditional yearlong courses are a year long - 36 weeks)

Shorecrest HS
Shorewood HS
Bainbridge HS

It has one of the longest instruction times for all courses - 96% of the Traditional 6.
Students only carry books for 3 classes Tue - Fri.
Courses alternate which gives time for students to absorb the material and to get extra help before classes meet again.
Students only have 3 courses to study for each night. Automatic homework load distribution.
This alternating schedule is similar to college.
Yearlong courses such as most of the AP courses span a year. However, it still permits for 1/2 credit semester length courses.
Few class changing times.
Several of the top schools in the Greater Seattle Area are on this schedule.
4 of the 5 days have extended periods for important science labs and visual and performing arts classes. Other disciplines benefit from the longer periods that foster learning of complex issues.

Long periods are harder for A.D.D. students and other students.
Students must manage 6 courses at a time.
Teacher work days and other non-class days need to be carefully planned to avoid missing the same courses.
Classes only meet 3 times a week.

Mod Block 6 Type 2

(3 days with 6 short periods, 2 days with 3 long periods. Traditional yearlong courses are a year long - 36 weeks)

Garfield HS
Kamiak HS

It has one of the longest instruction times for all courses - 98% of the Traditional 6.
Yearlong courses such as most of the AP courses span a year. However, it still permits for 1/2 credit semester length courses.
Two days have extended periods for important science labs.
Three days have shorter periods which may be easier for A.D.D. students.
Several of the top schools in the Greater Seattle Area are on this schedule.
Classes meet 4 times a week.

A slightly more complicated schedule than the Type 1 Modified 6 Period Block schedule to remember.
Students must manage 6 courses at a time.

Instruction Time Details

Instruction Time Per Course

Schedule Schools Mon
[periods] Tue
[periods] Wed
[periods] Thu
[periods] Fri
[periods] Weeks Per Term Per Day [min] Per Week [min] Per Term [min] Per Term [hours] % of Trad 6

4x4 Jackson HS,
Sammamish HS, Mariner HS 1,2,3,4 1,2,3,4 1,2,3,4 1,2,3,4 1,2,3,4 18 85 425 7650 127 77*

Traditional 6 Cascade HS, Everett HS, Lake Washington HS 1,2,3,4,5,6 1,2,3,4,5,6 1,2,3,4,5,6 1,2,3,4,5,6 1,2,3,4,5,6 36 55 275 9900 165 100

Traditional 7 Bellevue HS 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 36 46 230 8280 138 84

Mod Block 6 Type 1

(1 day with 6 periods, 4 days with 3 periods)
Shorecrest HS, Shorewood HS, Bainbridge HS 1,2,3,4,5,6 1,3,5 2,4,6 1,3,5 2,4,6 36
1,3,5
Mon-55
Tue,Thu-105

2,4,6
Mon-55
Wed,Fri-105
265 9540 159 96

Mod Block 6 Type 2

(3 days with 6 periods, 2 days with 3 periods)
Garfield HS, Kamiak HS 1,2,3,4,5,6 1,2,3,4,5,6 1,3,5 2,4,6 1,2,3,4,5,6 36
1,3,5
Mon,Tue,Fri-55
Wed-105

2,4,6
Mon,Tue,Fri-55
R-105
270
9720
162 98

Note:
* As another way to understand why the 4x4 schedule only gives students 77% of the instruction time for each 1 credit course as 6 period type schedules is to consider the following. The 4x4 purports to offer 8 full year equivalent courses per year: 4 crammed into the 1st semester and 4 crammed into the second semester. But the total school days and in-class hours students spend in 4x4 schools is the same as other schools. So when you slice a pie (the whole school year in-class hours) into 8ths instead of 6ths, each slice is smaller.

Schedule Type	Schools in the Area	Advantages	Disadvantages
4x4 (The same 4 courses each day, 5 days a week. Traditional yearlong courses are condensed into a calendar semester - 18 weeks.)	Jackson HS Sammamish HS	Only 4 courses at a time for students to manage. Students' perception that less homework is a good thing. It is simple since each day is the same and easy for Special Needs' students to remember. Teachers only teach 3 courses per semester. They see fewer students on this schedule than other schedules. Administration benefit. Very few class changing times when students sometimes get into trouble. Long, 85 minute, periods to delve into complex topics.	Only 77% of the instruction time as a traditional 6 period schedule for each 1 credit course (127 hours instead of 165 hours). A year's worth of material is claimed to be covered in a calendar semester but is rarely the case. Long breaks (8-13 months) between important sequential courses such as Math and World Languages. Students forget during these breaks and teachers must spend considerable time reviewing. More schedule conflicts. With only 4 periods many students cannot obtain their desired schedule. Band students often have to drop out of band to take other courses since band can take up to 25% of a student's education. Students perform worse on exams that test a year's worth of material such as the National AP Exams. None of the top schools in the area are on this schedule.
Traditional 6 (The same 6 courses each day, 5 days a week. Traditional yearlong courses are a year long - 36 weeks)	Cascade HS Everett HS Lake Washington HS	Each period (each course) has equal time 55 minutes a day. It is simple since each day is the same and easy for Special Needs students. 1/2 credit semester length courses are available.	Not enough time for Science labs. Not enough time to delve into complex topics. Students must manage 6 courses at a time.
Traditional 7 (The same 7 courses each day, 5 days a week. Traditional yearlong courses are a year long - 36 weeks)	Bellevue HS	Each period (each course) has equal time 46 minutes a day. It is simple since each day is the same and easy for Special Needs students. 1/2 credit semester length courses are available.	Only 84% of the instruction time as a 6 period schedule. Almost as bad as the 4x4 in this regard. Not enough time for Science labs. Students must manage 7 courses at a time.
Mod Block 6 Type 1 (1 day with 6 short periods, 4 days with 3 long periods. Traditional yearlong courses are a year long - 36 weeks)	Shorecrest HS Shorewood HS Bainbridge HS	It has one of the longest instruction times for all courses - 96% of the Traditional 6. Students only carry books for 3 classes Tue - Fri. Courses alternate which gives time for students to absorb the material and to get extra help before classes meet again. Students only have 3 courses to study for each night. Automatic homework load distribution. This alternating schedule is similar to college. Yearlong courses such as most of the AP courses span a year. However, it still permits for 1/2 credit semester length courses. Few class changing times. Several of the top schools in the Greater Seattle Area are on this schedule. 4 of the 5 days have extended periods for important science labs and visual and performing arts classes. Other disciplines benefit from the longer periods that foster learning of complex issues.	Long periods are harder for A.D.D. students and other students. Students must manage 6 courses at a time. Teacher work days and other non-class days need to be carefully planned to avoid missing the same courses. Classes only meet 3 times a week.
Mod Block 6 Type 2 (3 days with 6 short periods, 2 days with 3 long periods. Traditional yearlong courses are a year long - 36 weeks)	Garfield HS Kamiak HS	It has one of the longest instruction times for all courses - 98% of the Traditional 6. Yearlong courses such as most of the AP courses span a year. However, it still permits for 1/2 credit semester length courses. Two days have extended periods for important science labs. Three days have shorter periods which may be easier for A.D.D. students. Several of the top schools in the Greater Seattle Area are on this schedule. Classes meet 4 times a week.	A slightly more complicated schedule than the Type 1 Modified 6 Period Block schedule to remember. Students must manage 6 courses at a time.

								Instruction Time Per Course
Schedule	Schools	Mon [periods]	Tue [periods]	Wed [periods]	Thu [periods]	Fri [periods]	Weeks Per Term	Per Day [min]	Per Week [min]	Per Term [min]	Per Term [hours]	% of Trad 6
4x4	Jackson HS, Sammamish HS, Mariner HS	1,2,3,4	1,2,3,4	1,2,3,4	1,2,3,4	1,2,3,4	18	85	425	7650	127	77*
Traditional 6	Cascade HS, Everett HS, Lake Washington HS	1,2,3,4,5,6	1,2,3,4,5,6	1,2,3,4,5,6	1,2,3,4,5,6	1,2,3,4,5,6	36	55	275	9900	165	100
Traditional 7	Bellevue HS	1,2,3,4,5,6,7	1,2,3,4,5,6,7	1,2,3,4,5,6,7	1,2,3,4,5,6,7	1,2,3,4,5,6,7	36	46	230	8280	138	84
Mod Block 6 Type 1 (1 day with 6 periods, 4 days with 3 periods)	Shorecrest HS, Shorewood HS, Bainbridge HS	1,2,3,4,5,6	1,3,5	2,4,6	1,3,5	2,4,6	36	1,3,5 Mon-55 Tue,Thu-105 2,4,6 Mon-55 Wed,Fri-105	265	9540	159	96
Mod Block 6 Type 2 (3 days with 6 periods, 2 days with 3 periods)	Garfield HS, Kamiak HS	1,2,3,4,5,6	1,2,3,4,5,6	1,3,5	2,4,6	1,2,3,4,5,6	36	1,3,5 Mon,Tue,Fri-55 Wed-105 2,4,6 Mon,Tue,Fri-55 R-105	270	9720	162	98