WCPSS high schools follow different school schedules .

Leesville, Sanderson, Rolesville, Athens Drive, Wakefield, and Heritage are some of the schools that follow the block schedule. The block schedule consists of taking eight total classes with four in the fall and four different classes in the spring.

Broughton, Enloe, and Millbrook are some of the schools that follow the A Day B Day schedule. 

A Day B Day consists of taking the same eight classes all year long and taking a block of four classes every other day.

A Day B Day or Block Schedule, which is better? In my opinion, the block schedule is better. I might like the block schedule more because it is what I am used to, but nevertheless I still think the block schedule is better.

While Leesville follows the block schedule, my sister attends Broughton where they follow the A Day B Day schedule. I see how she manages classes versus how I handle mine and it gives me an insight into the differences of the two schedules.

There are pros and cons to both schedules, but to me, the block schedule provides more opportunities for students.

One positive of the block schedule is the ability to double up on courses. For example, students can take Math I in the fall and then Math II in the spring to either catch up or get ahead.

Another positive to the block schedule is that students will never have to juggle more than four classes at one time. While four classes can be a lot to handle, it is better than eight.

Having different classes in the second semester can also give students the chance to explore other opportunities such as CCP at Wake Tech for just one semester.

A huge advantage to the block schedule is having two exam periods, one for the first semester which happens in January, and then one for the second semester which happens in June.

This helps break up the workload so students don’t have to study for as many classes at once and final exams take up less time.

The biggest downside to the block schedule is for AP classes, if a student’s AP class is held in the fall then they have a four month gap from when they finish the course to the AP exam which is held in May. If students take their AP course in the spring, while the material is fresh, they are cramming the material in as they only have until May to learn everything.

A second negative is that band, chorus, dance and some select classes that run year round take up two blocks in your schedule which severely limits your elective options and space.

Another negative to the block schedule is that depending on how the schedule works out, there is a possibility that students may go a year without taking a math class and for some that may create an issue.

Another downside is that students may have an unbalanced schedule, they may have three core classes in the fall and only one elective which can be challenging, but they the spring be the opposite with only one core class and then three electives.

The A Day B Day schedule also has its pros and is liked by those students who follow this schedule.

Jillian Ziemba (and sister to the staff writer), sophomore at Broughton, said, “When you have busy nights, you can do homework the next day if you didn’t have time the 1st day. And I don’t have to see the same teacher 2 days in a row if I’m mad at them.”

Just like anything with pros, there are also cons with the A Day B day schedule. 

Ziemba said, “It’s bad if you’re trying to double up classes because you can’t. It also does screw your lunch over if they give you two different lunches for A Day than B Day.”

There are pros and cons to both schedules and they both provide different opportunities.

Everybody has different needs. For some the block schedule may be better, while others might see a better outcome with the A Day B Day.

When it came time for me to start thinking about high schools, I looked at multiple different schools with different schedules. Ultimately, I decided that the block schedule was better for me because managing four classes at once seemed like more than enough.