FAQ: Middle School Schedule Improvements
We’ve gathered answers to common questions about the new middle school schedule to help your family prepare for the upcoming school year. If you have more questions, please reach out to us via Let’s Talk, and our team will get back to you as soon as possible.
Overview: Middle School Master Schedule 2025-26
Updated Nov. 7, 2025
Beginning Monday, Nov. 17, class periods for core subjects and electives will decrease slightly, from 50 minutes to 49 minutes each. The WIN/Lunch/Social block will increase from 72 minutes to 78 minutes total, allowing 39 minutes each for WIN and Lunch/Social.
This small shift redistributes time within the existing school day to ensure all scheduling and planning requirements are met, while maintaining consistency across both middle schools.
Sample bell schedules are included below (click images).
No. The start and end times for both Brooks and Julian Middle Schools remain the same. The change simply redistributes minutes within the school day to balance instructional and wellness time.
No. This is a bell schedule adjustment only—it does not impact students’ course enrollments, class rosters, or teacher assignments. Your child’s classes and teachers will remain exactly the same.
This is the first year of implementing the new middle school schedule, and we committed to reviewing its effectiveness throughout the year. During the first trimester, we identified a small group of teachers whose schedules provided fewer than the minimum consecutive planning minutes required by contract.
By adjusting instructional periods by one minute and slightly extending the mid-day block, we’re ensuring contractual compliance, consistency across both schools, and a schedule that better supports student balance and staff needs.
Students will continue to receive more instructional time in core subjects than in previous years—about 58 additional minutes each week. The extended WIN/Lunch/Social block also gives students more time to eat lunch, connect with peers, and participate in enrichment or support opportunities, supporting wellness and belonging during the school day.
We’re excited that the new middle school schedule has been redesigned to better meet the academic, social, and developmental needs of our students. With input from students, families, and staff, we’ve created a schedule that provides more consistent learning opportunities, increases time for core subjects, and offers enhanced flexibility for electives, enrichment, and support.
- Increased Instructional Time for Core Subjects: English Language Arts (ELA), Mathematics, Science, and Social Science will each receive an additional hour of instructional time per week by shifting from an A/B rotation to daily instruction.
- Greater Student Choice in Electives: Students can select electives that align with their interests, ranging from world languages and band to design and drama. Flexible options include both year-long and trimester-based courses.
- Lunch, Enrichment, and Social Time Enhancements: All students will have a 72-minute period for lunch, structured social time (recess), and “What I Need” (WIN) time:
- Lunch and Recess (about 36 minutes) - offering students access to physical activity, as well as a chance to connect and recharge.
- WIN Block (about 36 minutes) - a dedicated time for students to receive targeted enrichment or intervention support. This new approach replaces the previous SOAR model.
- Unified Schedule Across Schools: Both middle schools will now follow the same bell schedule and course offerings, fostering equity and simplifying collaboration across the district.
- Focus on Supportive Transitions: The schedule is designed to support students’ academic growth while easing their transition into middle school and preparing them for success in high school.
Yes! The new middle school schedule was developed through a year-long process that included input from students, families, and staff. This collaborative effort ensured that the schedule aligns with the academic, social, and developmental needs of our students.
The process was guided by:
- Best practices from the Association of Middle Level Education (AMLE).
- The district’s equity policy, ensuring all students have access to high-quality learning experiences.
- Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) requirements for middle schools.
No, the new schedule is a hybrid:
- Every Day: Core subjects (ELA, Math, Science, Social Science) and one elective.
- A/B Rotation (Every Other Day): PE and one additional elective.
Here’s an example:
Switching to daily lessons for core subjects like English, Math, Science, and Social Science is a big step forward for our students' learning. With an extra hour of instruction each week for every subject, students will get more time to build important skills, dive deeper into key topics, and grow academically every single day.
Building a school schedule requires balancing many priorities, like daily instruction in core subjects, targeted interventions, engaging electives, physical education and social time. With limited hours in the school day and guidelines we need to follow, we’ve worked hard to create a schedule that reflects the input and priorities of our community and ensures that we are supporting students' academic, social, and personal growth.
