Why don’t seniors get their core classes in the beginning of the first and second marking period?

The answer should be obvious (a stress-free senior year), but for some seniors, core classes come at the end of their academic careers, instead of the beginning. As seniors prepare to say goodbye, we thought it was a good time to get a few opinions on the waiting game some seniors play when it comes to getting “the cores” out of the way.  

But to be sure, not all seniors are procrastinators. In some cases, core class timing isn’t possible. Schedule changes, over-enrollment in core classes, and teacher shortages are just some of the factors that determine when students get to the cores.

 “I don’t think it’s smart to give students their core classes at the end of the year,” said senior Alisanne Bennett. “I understand not all students are able to fit in these classes, but what if they take the class and fail? Yes, students should be actively paying attention, since they need these last few credits to graduate, but things happen.”

Mr. Valburn thinks cramming core classes may or may not make sense.

“I think it is priority for seniors to get their core classes in so they don’t have to cram at the last minute. I agree,” Valburn said. “But for some students it may be overload.”

Entrepreneurship teacher Mr. Wiggins said early graduation is another benefit to getting the cores done earlier.

“It gives them time to be able to take the class over by giving them the core classes up front,” he said. “It should be an option for some of those students who are looking to graduate early, students who are pursuing their careers, and those who are going to college. They should have the option to be able to take their core  classes during the first marking period.”

 Mr. Hoffman, senior vice principal, wants ALL students to get a better understanding of what goes into the decision-making process, as it relates scheduling students’ core classes. 

“Some seniors do (get core classes done earlier), and some don’t. Unfortunately, there are three things that go into making a schedule. The size of the school – we have 2,000 students; The size of the senior class – we have 400 senior Scholars;  teacher schedules; and the school schedule,” said Hoffman.

Core classes (and all of them, for that matter) are like puzzles. Not all the pieces go in one place.

“All three things must fit,” said Hoffman. “So, it would be nice if we could fit everyone into one bubble, but we can’t. If we had more teachers there would be more availability to move certain students’ schedules.”

He also added that ATC (Atlantic Technical College) students have classes that they must take at creatin times, so they would be affected as well.