We have begun an inclusive review and dialogue over how to modernize the high school schedule to best serve Irvington’s students in fulfillment of the Portrait of a Graduate. Our goal is to fully research, discuss, and communicate these efforts with the Irvington learning community and plan for a fresh approach to high school scheduling for the 2026-27 school year.

This review is prompted by three considerations:

First, through the initial work of Challenge Success, our Stanford-based consulting partner, students in the high school have told us that they desire greater engagement with their instructors than a single short period can afford. This affirms the anecdotal evidence that students desire greater curricular depth, better workload balance and stress management, and stronger relationships with their teachers. Our current schedule impedes our teacher’s ability to design more engaging, student-centered work. Additionally, 81% of students reported stress-related health symptoms in the past month, including exhaustion, difficulty sleeping, and headaches, prompting us to examine how best to organize time to best support their mental health, given we provide a rigorous academic program.

Second, many high-performing high schools in our region and beyond have, over the past twenty years, modernized their schedules. While this can take many forms, most have moved to structures that allow for longer classroom time, greater in-class flexibility, and a less stressful building environment due to fewer classroom changes. The schedules that we are considering have a guaranteed lunch period for every student.

Third, a high school schedule that more closely aligns with the college experience will better prepare our students for the next phase of their academic journey. Currently, 70% of our students take AP classes. Therefore, better alignment in terms of the frequency and duration of classes will more likely prepare students for the college journey.

We are excited by the promise of a new schedule at the high school and look forward to the discussions with our learning community that will make this a highly anticipated reality for next year. Please see the resources listed below for more information and to attend one of the virtual feedback sessions for parents. If you have additional questions, please email ScheduleChange@irvingtonschools.org.