BrookSpeak

On Pebblebrook’s road to success there were just a few people lagging behind. Last year’s freshmen had the highest retention rates with 48.7 percent out of the 359 students failing to successfully complete their first year in high school .

“The reason why there was such a big freshmen failure was because of the transition from middle school to high school. To help change that around this year we are doing the block schedule where we have the same four classes everyday,� said administrator Ashley Hosey.

During the previous school year everyone followed the modified block schedule, taking eight classes every other day.

“I struggled with the schedule at first, but it got better after I adjusted to it,� said sophomore Tyrone Ligon.

This year’s freshmen and sophomores now abide by the original block schedule where the same four classes are taken everyday for one semester.

“The schedules were changed so they could manage their classes better, have more interaction with their teachers day to day and improve their adjustment to high school,� said counselor Carla Dixon.

About four years ago the entire student body adhered to the block schedule. The modified block schedule, four set of classes that alternate every other day, was put into effect to primarily aid juniors, seniors and advanced placement students.

“It was decided that these students needed the same classes all year to be well prepared for test at the end of the year and I know they can handle them. The block schedule is better for the freshmen and sophomores because it helps with their transition to high school and I have seen a immense improvement in their grades already,� said principal Regina Montgomery.

Many current sophomores appreciate this switch back to the original block schedule and believe it is making a difference.

“My grades are better this year because of the new schedule,� said Ligon.

“I like the schedule because it’s the same as the middle school, but instead of eight classes everyday I have four,� said freshman Michelle Cowins.