CHANGES IN THE HIGH SCHOOL SCHEDULE FOR 2019-2020

Clinton High School is planning to change from the current trimester schedule to a semester schedule for the 2019-2020 school year.  There are many reasons for this change—all for the benefit of students.

• Philosophically the argument for a trimester schedule is 2 trimesters equals 2 semesters, thus creating opportunity for students to take more courses.  However, over the last fifteen years, Clinton High School has discovered that this is not the case. We have had to change some core classes to three trimesters in order to cover the content.  This adjustment shows 180 days of instruction at 50 minutes each year is more academically rigorous than 120 days of instruction at 70 minutes.
• Students will have more choices every day.  Clinton High School is looking at a seven period day for next year, along with an early bird period.  This is two more class opportunities everyday which will actually allow more opportunities for elective classes and more choices.
• Plans are in the works for a future Career and Technical Center for Clinton County, which will serve high school students in five Clinton County School Districts and Eastern Iowa Community College.  This regional career center will offer capstone, high quality programming in advanced manufacturing, welding, auto/diesel, culinary, agriculture, health services, etc.  This will require coordinating schedules and calendars between the school districts and Clinton Community College.  DeWitt, Camanche, Northeast, and Cal –Wheat, as well as Clinton Community College, currently use a semester system.
• Alignment with Clinton Community College’s semester schedule will also provide more opportunities for concurrent courses, in which Clinton High School students can earn both high school and college credit for the same course.

There is still a lot of planning to be done in terms of curriculum, schedule, graduation requirements, and professional development before next fall.  We will continue to keep you informed through this blog and the high school newsletter.