When City High was established in 1939, the University of Iowa had a heavy influence on the way our school was run. Originally, the university down the street used the trimester system, which inspired the very first City High administration to do the same in order to stay in synch with the University of Iowa.

However, when the University of Iowa changed from trimesters to semesters, City High stuck with the trimester system. It has been decades since the university changed their system, and now our school district is considering following in their scheduling footsteps yet again.

Many students who are not in favor of the change, and what to keep the trimester system, worry about scheduling issues, such as how would PE work, how electives would work, or how the three trimester government classes would be changed, along with other issues.

Many of these concerns brought forward by students have a very simple solution: the quarter system. Most schools that divide their year by semesters further divide them into quarters. There would be two nine-week quarters per semester where students have the opportunity to take electives. These quarters would end up benefitting students, because although the elective would be three weeks less, they would be able to take more total electives in their high school career, which would allow students to further their education in ways the trimester system does not currently allow.

Despite most students disagreeing with this probable change, the transition from trimesters to semesters would actually benefit the district for a multitude of reasons.

Changing from trimesters to semesters would be much easier on the guidance office. If the district changes from trimesters to semesters, the guidance office will have one big transition between semesters as opposed to two big transitions between trimesters. This will benefit the guidance office and allow them to be more efficient.

Another benefit to changing from trimesters to semesters is that it would make our district in sync with 70% of high schools. Most high schools are on the semester system, and changing from trimesters to semesters would allow us to connect with other schools.

Not only will semesters benefit the guidance office and the district, but it will also benefit students who are preparing for college. By running on the semester system, students will become used to the college-like structure of a semester system. Students will become accustomed to midterms and finals, and a two-part school year.

The committee that is working on deciding whether or not this change should be implemented has not yet reached a decision. However, it would benefit the district and City High greatly for this change to be implemented.