Class schedules have changed over the years, moving from eight classes to seven classes. These changes affect people differently. Some support the change, while others do not. Whether the effects are positive or negative, the change in class periods continues to influence both students and teachers.

Ms. McIntyre, a former teacher at Darnell-Cookman School of the Medical Arts who worked at the school for three to four years, explained that seven periods often leave teachers with little planning time for grading student work. This can result in assignments taking longer to be graded because teachers have less time during the day to complete that work.

Mr. DeBolt also shared concerns about the seven-period system, noting that when the school used a similar schedule before, the results were not very successful.

Ryan Shah, a former student who has attended school with the writer since sixth grade, believes seven classes are more efficient. He said, “I prefer seven classes versus eight classes because I don’t like switching classes every single two hours. It’s way better to spread the time in seven classes because it doesn’t stress you out having to constantly think about whether you did the homework for your eighth class.”

At the same time, Ryan also sees value in eight classes. He added, “I’m not against eight classes because it allows us to catch up on work in seven classes.” He believes both schedules can reduce stress in different ways.

Alejandro Alvarado, a recently transferred student, shared a different opinion and said he prefers eight periods. He explained, “I would much prefer eight periods, allowing classes to be shorter and more manageable for students. It also allows more recreational activities, which prevents stress and gives students more time to relax and complete work for other classes.”

He believes that shorter classes can help students manage their day more evenly while reducing stress.

In the end, both seven-period and eight-period schedules affect people differently. Some students and teachers support one system over the other, while others see benefits in both. No matter which schedule is used, class period changes will always have an impact on daily school life.