Block scheduling can be credited with raising grade-point averages and increasing the number of class credits for Hoffman Estates High School students, the school’s principal told the Township High School District 211 Board of Education Thursday night.
Dennis Garber told the board of the Palatine-based district the overall grade-point average for the school–about 2.76 on a 4-point scale–was higher than in any of the three previous years. The average of the three previous years was 2.67, Garber said.
The school completed the first year of a two-year pilot program in block scheduling.
The percentage of failing students and the number of discipline referrals was lower last year than during the preceding three years, he said.
Garber said the block-scheduling program, which provides four blocks of 90-minute class periods rather than eight 50-minute periods, requires instructors to use at least three different teaching strategies.
About 55 percent of the students earned six or more credits during the year without requiring a staff increase, compared with fewer than 35 percent of the students during the preceding three years.
Another update on block scheduling will be presented to the board in October. At that time, officials may decide to extend the pilot program to a third year.
