The Wauwatosa School District is considering whether to move the district’s two high schools to an “extended-time schedule,” sometimes referred to as “block scheduling,” starting with the 2027-28 school year, and administrators have begun discussing various options with teachers and parents.
Students at Wauwatosa East and Wauwatosa West high schools currently follow a seven-period class format, in which they fill each school day with up to seven classes that remain mostly constant for the entire school year. Block scheduling — a structure in place in a number of other districts, from Mukwonago to Mequon — would reduce the number of classes each day, extend the amount of class time in each learning “block” and potentially allow for more class diversity across two semesters or three trimesters, depending on the format.
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All models also would include the creation of new “flex periods” that could be used to achieve a range of educational and enrichment goals, from makeup classwork and tutoring to student club meetings and individual study plans.
Although no changes have yet been approved, district administrators and school officials have begun soliciting feedback, with some stakeholders raising concerns about the potential impact on teachers and students.