Jackson Reed using covid-era block schedule again?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My rising 9th grader does not have language on her schedule, even though she she selected one. does this mean she might begin foreign language next semester?

I think language is a full year class. Maybe there is a scheduling issue with some other class which may be why there is no language class. In any case DCPS only requires 2 credits of language.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My rising 9th grader does not have language on her schedule, even though she she selected one. does this mean she might begin foreign language next semester?

Anyone who reads DCUM knows that JR sucks at scheduling. Kids are scheduled for classes they don't take, double scheduled, not scheduled for grad requirement classes. Then they waste more time away from class trying to get those schedules fixed. Certain coaches and connected staff are able to fix things on the back end. Everyone else scrambles. JR boosters will chime in and pretend like it is a benefit because it teaches kids important lessons. I think it is evidence of gross mismanagement and how JR's reputation as the crown jewel of DCPS HSs is fiction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My rising 9th grader does not have language on her schedule, even though she she selected one. does this mean she might begin foreign language next semester?

Students generally iron out scheduling issues with their guidance counselors in the first week of school. It can be chaotic, and I imagine it feels particularly daunting for 9th graders since they are new to the school.

I will say that the process for seniors is new and improved this year—seniors had meetings with their GCs in the last two weeks to review and fix schedules—which gives me some hope that it will be better for other grades, as well. She should be prepared to go speak with her GC and know what she wants to request. In fact, I’d recommend having your daughter email her GC now (you can find her assigned GC on the guidance department page on the school website) and say that she does not have a foreign language scheduled and needs guidance on how to ensure she is placed in the appropriate language and level. If nothing else, the GC might recognize her name when she follows up in person.

If after the first few days of school your daughter doesn’t feel like she’s been able to make any progress on getting this fixed, then you should get involved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My rising 9th grader does not have language on her schedule, even though she she selected one. does this mean she might begin foreign language next semester?

Students generally iron out scheduling issues with their guidance counselors in the first week of school. It can be chaotic, and I imagine it feels particularly daunting for 9th graders since they are new to the school.

I will say that the process for seniors is new and improved this year—seniors had meetings with their GCs in the last two weeks to review and fix schedules—which gives me some hope that it will be better for other grades, as well. She should be prepared to go speak with her GC and know what she wants to request. In fact, I’d recommend having your daughter email her GC now (you can find her assigned GC on the guidance department page on the school website) and say that she does not have a foreign language scheduled and needs guidance on how to ensure she is placed in the appropriate language and level. If nothing else, the GC might recognize her name when she follows up in person.

If after the first few days of school your daughter doesn’t feel like she’s been able to make any progress on getting this fixed, then you should get involved.

I agree with this...if your daughter wants a language in 9th grade, she will get one. It might take a week or two to fix it but J-R will make sure that all students are in the correct "core" classes including languages. I also agree that it's a good idea to email the counselor...they may be able to email the form to you to request schedule changes.

[Anonymous]

Confirming: language classes are full-year. There are at least 2 new guidance counselors this year. Look on the school website and find your student’s counselor and send them a message explaining your question. That might speed the process a bit.

[Anonymous]

This is so absurd. My teens are at an MCPS that is not a W school but at least they can get the classes they need. I am posting to say this isn't normal. If your kid signs up for Spanish 2 and Geometry, they should get Spanish 2 and Geometry. It's not like signing up for, say, Cooking and getting Music instead. That's the kind of mis-scheduling that happens at MCPS, which is fine. But kids should get the math and foreign language classes they need!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My rising 9th grader does not have language on her schedule, even though she she selected one. does this mean she might begin foreign language next semester?

Students generally iron out scheduling issues with their guidance counselors in the first week of school. It can be chaotic, and I imagine it feels particularly daunting for 9th graders since they are new to the school.

I will say that the process for seniors is new and improved this year—seniors had meetings with their GCs in the last two weeks to review and fix schedules—which gives me some hope that it will be better for other grades, as well. She should be prepared to go speak with her GC and know what she wants to request. In fact, I’d recommend having your daughter email her GC now (you can find her assigned GC on the guidance department page on the school website) and say that she does not have a foreign language scheduled and needs guidance on how to ensure she is placed in the appropriate language and level. If nothing else, the GC might recognize her name when she follows up in person.

If after the first few days of school your daughter doesn’t feel like she’s been able to make any progress on getting this fixed, then you should get involved.

This is ridiculous. Kids shouldn't miss the first week or two or classes because of admin screw ups. You damn well bet that if my kid doesn't have her schedule straight before the first day of school, I'm reaching out.


I agree with this...if your daughter wants a language in 9th grade, she will get one. It might take a week or two to fix it but J-R will make sure that all students are in the correct "core" classes including languages. I also agree that it's a good idea to email the counselor...they may be able to email the form to you to request schedule changes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is so absurd. My teens are at an MCPS that is not a W school but at least they can get the classes they need. I am posting to say this isn't normal. If your kid signs up for Spanish 2 and Geometry, they should get Spanish 2 and Geometry. It's not like signing up for, say, Cooking and getting Music instead. That's the kind of mis-scheduling that happens at MCPS, which is fine. But kids should get the math and foreign language classes they need!

I can’t disagree with you. It is pretty ridiculous and the fact that it happens every single year is beyond inexcusable. Why doesn’t DCPS ask someone at MCPS to help them figure it out once and for all

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Holy sh*t,

Is it too late to transfer to MacArthur?

MacArthur also doing 80-minute classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Holy sh*t,

Is it too late to transfer to MacArthur?

MacArthur also doing 80-minute classes.

The question isn't whether they are doing 80-minute classes or not...both the A/B and the 4x4 schedules have 4 classes per day, 80 minutes each. The question is whether they are doing the A/B schedule (8 classes for whole year, each class meets every other day) vs the 4x4 (4 classes that meet every day for one semester only followed by 4 new classes for the 2nd semester). If it's the 4x4 schedule, start complaining now and get it changed as soon as possible!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Holy sh*t,

Is it too late to transfer to MacArthur?

MacArthur also doing 80-minute classes.

The question isn't whether they are doing 80-minute classes or not...both the A/B and the 4x4 schedules have 4 classes per day, 80 minutes each. The question is whether they are doing the A/B schedule (8 classes for whole year, each class meets every other day) vs the 4x4 (4 classes that meet every day for one semester only followed by 4 new classes for the 2nd semester). If it's the 4x4 schedule, start complaining now and get it changed as soon as possible!

J-R is doing the A/B schedule and likely McArthur is as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Holy sh*t,

Is it too late to transfer to MacArthur?

MacArthur also doing 80-minute classes.

The question isn't whether they are doing 80-minute classes or not...both the A/B and the 4x4 schedules have 4 classes per day, 80 minutes each. The question is whether they are doing the A/B schedule (8 classes for whole year, each class meets every other day) vs the 4x4 (4 classes that meet every day for one semester only followed by 4 new classes for the 2nd semester). If it's the 4x4 schedule, start complaining now and get it changed as soon as possible!

Except many people have made it clear that the 4x4 schedule was a Covid era phenomena and is no longer.

I love your advice…who would you complain to get it changed if the entire school system was on a 4x4 schedule?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Holy sh*t,

Is it too late to transfer to MacArthur?

MacArthur also doing 80-minute classes.

The question isn't whether they are doing 80-minute classes or not...both the A/B and the 4x4 schedules have 4 classes per day, 80 minutes each. The question is whether they are doing the A/B schedule (8 classes for whole year, each class meets every other day) vs the 4x4 (4 classes that meet every day for one semester only followed by 4 new classes for the 2nd semester). If it's the 4x4 schedule, start complaining now and get it changed as soon as possible!

Except many people have made it clear that the 4x4 schedule was a Covid era phenomena and is no longer.

I love your advice…who would you complain to get it changed if the entire school system was on a 4x4 schedule?

No—people have said that it was a covid-era schedule at JR but that it’s still in place at many other DCPS high schools, as it was pre-covid. JR was an exception (Walls, as well, I believe) before and had to fight to get the exception again after. (DCPS prefers 4x4 for HS because it offers more opportunities in a single year for students to retake classes if they fail, which in theory helps graduation rates. It’s terrible in pretty much every other way.)

The question of whether MacArthur will be on an A/B schedule or a 4x4 still has not been answered.

[Anonymous]

Macarthur is doing A/B schedule, not 4x4. Their Friday bell schedule might be a bit different though, as they seem to have an advisory that only meets on Friday. But still, A/B

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Holy sh*t,

Is it too late to transfer to MacArthur?

MacArthur also doing 80-minute classes.

The question isn't whether they are doing 80-minute classes or not...both the A/B and the 4x4 schedules have 4 classes per day, 80 minutes each. The question is whether they are doing the A/B schedule (8 classes for whole year, each class meets every other day) vs the 4x4 (4 classes that meet every day for one semester only followed by 4 new classes for the 2nd semester). If it's the 4x4 schedule, start complaining now and get it changed as soon as possible!

Except many people have made it clear that the 4x4 schedule was a Covid era phenomena and is no longer.

I love your advice…who would you complain to get it changed if the entire school system was on a 4x4 schedule?

No- as others have said, DCPS made it mandatory for all schools during COVID and J-R fought back during the 2021-2022 school year to get school autonomy for scheduling. Some (probably most) high schools in DC are still using the 4x4. If your child is at a school that does this, I'd do everything possible to get it changed. It is probably easier now that J-R parents/teachers/students/administrators raised holy hell to make the 4x4 not mandatory....but I'm guessing that many schools have kept it (path of least resistance).