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.
What's the Same
In the previous D97 middle school A/B schedule, students took PE every other day. This will continue in the new schedule.
This means that students will have PE three times a week in one 5-day week and two times the following week.
What's Different
PE sessions are now 50 minutes (due to decrease in period length, 75 mins → 50 mins), allowing us to balance increased instructional time for core subjects and the WIN block.
While PE time is slightly reduced, students will still benefit from quality instruction delivered by licensed PE teachers. Additionally, the 72-minute block for lunch/recess and WIN provides further opportunities for movement and socialization, helping to ensure students remain active and engaged throughout the school day.
Yes—physical wellness remains a priority for District 97. While PE time is slightly reduced, students will still receive regular, high-quality instruction from licensed PE teachers.
Our commitment to the holistic wellness of students is a cornerstone of the Portrait of an Oak Park 8th Grade Graduate, where being "Holistically Well" reflects our dedication to students' overall well-being both inside and outside of school.
The new schedule includes:
- Structured social time during lunch for movement and connection.
- The WIN block, which offers targeted enrichment, intervention, or additional opportunities for activity.
Illinois law requires at least three days of PE every five-day week unless schools operate on a block schedule. As District 97 transitions to a hybrid schedule, we are seeking a waiver to maintain an alternating PE schedule.
The waiver allows us to:
- Continue offering PE three days one week and two days the next, as we have done in recent years.
- Balance increased core instruction and personalized student support while ensuring consistent, high-quality PE instruction from licensed teachers.
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.
