High schoolers drop from 8-period to 7-period schedule for 2025-2026 school year, DCPS says

News 4 Jax | By: Kelsey Bingham and Aaron Farrar | February 26, 2025

DUVAL COUNTY, Fla. – Duval County Public Schools announced new scheduling changes Wednesday for middle and high school students for the 2025-2026 school year.

Middle school students will follow a seven-period schedule, attending the same seven courses daily.

High school students will operate on a 3×3 block schedule with a “skinny course,” meaning students will take three 100-minute courses every other day on an A/B rotation and one 50-minute course daily, totaling seven courses.

“Skinny” courses will be determined by each school.

Exceptions to these changes are Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, Stanton College Preparatory School, Paxon School for Advanced Studies and Samuel Wolfson School for Advanced Studies. DCPS says they will retain their 4×4 block schedules.

“In middle school, being in every academic class each day is expected to improve student learning in core subjects,” said Superintendent Dr. Christopher Bernier. “In high school, the seven-period schedule will create a more balanced schedule across all four years with plenty of room to earn the credits needed for graduation.”

DCPS says the announcement follows a thorough review of budget constraints and extensive stakeholder discussions.

The immediate cost savings of the new schedule are projected at $8 million to $10 million, according to DCPS.