To accommodate the new 7×2 block schedule, the high school will change the graduation requirements for incoming 9th through 11th graders this fall. This change switches the graduation requirements that students have grown accustomed to, changing it from a minimum of 43 credits to 52. This change provides students with new opportunities, but also leaves them feeling stressed.
This change is a direct bi-product of the 7×2 block schedule. The school was required to make this change to abide by state law. The percentage of credits required to graduate will be changing to 92%; this is a change from the 89% requirement the school has currently.
“The main reason we changed the credit requirements came naturally because we are now offering seven periods every semester. So once you increase the amount of opportunities that are given in order to stay consistent with graduation requirements from the state, that does mean that then our overall credit requirements have to shift for students,” school counselor Sydney Piras said.
This change will allow for students to have the opportunity to try out new classes, and pursue pathways. Along with the credit change, the school is offering a plethora of new classes. These new classes place emphasis on career pathways; some of these new classes include Certified Nursing Assistants and Cyber Security.
Freshman Peyton Stepan said “it means we can have a lot more electives” which is very important to him as he wants to “be a nurse” and “do the CNA stuff,” and this change will allow him to pursue these pathways.
However, this change is not all good and there are some drawbacks to it. Students fear that this change may increase stress levels, because more classes are required there will be more stress placed on them.
“I see it as more stressful because there are more classes that I’m now required to take as there are now seven total periods, which is also needing to take two more credits. I have to choose more classes, more homework and more stress,” sophomore Erik Fog said.
Along with this, some students feel this change could have been better communicated, stating that there was a lack of communication.
Fog stated that one of his teachers communicated this change to him, when it should have been the school. Stepan also stated that he felt the change could have been better communicated, especially with such a big change like this.
These changes have now been communicated to affected classes through class meetings and 4th hour. This helps clear up some of the communication concerns students had.
This new change entails both good and bad aspects that incoming 9th through 11th graders will have to navigate this fall. Though it may seem stressful in the end it will allow students to take opportunities and follow pathways they were unable to before.
