Trimesters

3 X 5 Trimester Schedule

Over the past nine years this schedule has become very prominent in Michigan. The schedule allows for all the benefits of block scheduling without the built-in problems. Requiring no additional staff and saving money while providing more classes for students are strong reasons for leaving a traditional schedule and moving to a trimester format. Balancing students’ core classes over three terms allows for less stress on students. Staff members are given more preparation time with fewer students and classes to manage. With all the positives in the time structure, the real benefits are in the guidelines and policies that make the time structure work to its full advantage. Other major benefits are the curriculum alignment and the ability for students to take courses over in the same year. Traditional year long classes run 2 of the 3 terms. Only band, choir and AP classes are run all 3 terms.

In just 8 months at New Buffalo the results are in:

ACT Scores

2010 Results		20.24	18.00	21.64	19.95	20.12	7.31
2009 Results		16.8	18.2	17.5	18.9	17.85	6
	Change this year	3.44	-0.20	4.14	1.05	2.27	1.31
		Engish	Math	Reading	Science	Composite	Writing

By doing the right school improvement steps in policy and practice great change can be accomplished using the trimester format. The curricular changes will continue this growth pattern over the next few years just as in other districts. Trimester schedules are a model for school improvement not just a schedule change.

Ways to save money by using a trimester schedule.

Sample 9th Grade Schedule

	Fall	Winter	Spring
1st Hour	English 9A	Art	U.S. History B
2nd Hour	Band A	Band B	Band C
3rd Hour	Algebra 1 A	Algebra 1 B	English 9B
4th Hour	Phy. Ed.	French 1 A	French 1 B
5th Hour	Biology A	U.S. History A	Biology B

Each class is worth .5 Credit - 7.5 Credits per year

Additional Information

The Most Common High School Schedules

Placement of courses

Basic Schedule Setup

Crossover teachers between buildings

Trimester Overview

High School Master Schedule

Time Schedules Regular Day

Valedictorian / Salutatorian Solution

Meeting Period Day

Exam and Grading System

Half Day Schedule

Attendance Policy

Memo to Staff explaining the Schedule

Middle School Trimester Schedule

Letter to Parents about the schedule

High School Course book 04-05

Placing classes with staff

High School Handbook

Test Performance at SLHS

Common Set of Classroom Expectations

Gap Retention Research

Sample Trimester Calendar

Sample Exam Schedule

Trimester Frequently Asked Questions

Semesters Vs. Trimester Research

Trimester Thesis by Debra Miller

Principals Partnership Research

Trimester Schedule with 3 lunch periods

Block Scheduling Websites

Middle School Trimesters

Teacher Instructional Resource Website

Teaching Tips for Instruction

Block Schedule compared to Trimesters

Why Algebra Should not go all 3 Terms

Trimester Schools

Spring Lake Class B	Wayland Class B	Grayling Class C
Grand Haven A	Belding Class B	North Branch Class B
Ludington Class B	Allegan Class B	Cassopolis Class D
Allendale Class B	Fremont Class B	Manistee Class B
New Buffalo Class D	Lakeview Class C	Newaygo Class B
Grant Class B	Montabella Class C	Warren Fitzgerald Class A
Plainwell Class B	Tricounty Class B	Dundee Class C
Madison, SD Class D	Southgate Anderson Class A	Boyne City Class D
Culbertson, MT Class D	East Kentwood Class A	Munising Class C
Cadillac, MI Class B	Temperance, MI Class A	Birmingham, MI Class A
Mona Shores Class A	Hudsonville, MI Class A	Fruitport, MI Class B