University Prep has seventy minute classes. This might seem typical, but really, it’s not. Overlake and Lakeside both have fifty minute classes,
“We have four classes, so that makes everything just so much longer,” sixth grader Hatcher Hughes said.
However, the jump from elementary school to middle school is not as tough as you might imagine, going from thirty and forty minute minute classes to seventy minute classes,
“It’s been smoother than I expected it to be. I thought it was gonna be kind of rough,” Hughes says.
“Assistant Head of School for Academics” Ed Billingslea says he has the leap figured out so it is not too difficult, but still requires the students to think independently,
“I think it is a good jump and we’re very intentional, and I hope the sixth graders are feeling this,” Billingslea said.
Even though there are downsides like being bored and for some sixth graders the leap, there are multiple upsides. Billingslea talks about how you can dive deeper into a subject when you have 70 minute classes.
“It gives you enough time to go in depth on a particular unit or topic that you’re discussing,” Billingslea said.
Seventh grader Armaan Grover says that he gets more bored in classes that he does not like. In classes he does like, he said he does not get bored as often.
“It depends what classes, because I feel if it’s a really boring class, like for me, English, I’ll definitely notice it. All the classes I don’t like, where I have to stare at the clock, then I kind of get bored,” Grover said.
With all of these negatives and positives, Billingslea said that there will be a schedule change in the future.
“In your lifetime here at University Prep, you will see a new schedule,” Billingslea said.