What is an AB Block Schedule?
An AB block schedule is where six to eight classes are divided up between two alternate days so students only take three or four classes per day throughout two semesters. In an AB block schedule, classes or blocks run between 85 and 100 minutes. Students receive their course credit at the end of the academic year. Each AB block schedule is different depending on the school's needs and values.
At the Alexandria Area High School, the modified AB block schedule has a total of eight classes per semester, with four classes on A day and four classes on B day. The core classes are year-round, while electives typically run for a semester. Each block is 85 minutes long and classes start at 8:25 am and end at 3:05 pm.
Some of the benefits of having an AB block schedule are: less passing time in between classes, only four classes a day, supportive of an advisory period, longer class time allows for deeper discussions and labs, and allows struggling students to retake classes and retrieve lost credits.
Here is the current AB block schedule at Alexandria Area High School:
Although there are longer class times, students and teachers meet every other day. This develops inconsistent instruction time for students and teachers, especially college and AP students and teachers.
