Feeling scattered by the fast-paced schedule of your high school day? Want to continue learning a new concept only to be told it’s time to pack up, switch gears and do something completely different? Slow down, take a breath, and learn how New Millennium Secondary School (NMSS), a tuition-free public 9th-12th grade high school, gives you time to focus!
At our free public high school we believe in an intensely personal approach to education. Our 9th-12th grade students create course schedules based on interests, standards-based requirements, California’s UC A-G requirements and even work schedules. This flexibility gives our students freedom to pursue an education that allows them to thrive, especially considering our productive schedule structure.
Block Scheduling = Lots of Focus Time
NMSS operates on a modified block schedule. A popular alternative to the traditional 7-8 period school day, this schedule offers numerous benefits for both the students and teachers.
At our small, tuition-free school, students get 100 minutes of instruction time (or 65 minutes for Period 7) instead of 45-50 minutes for each class. This allows students to be active participants and delve deeper into the material, ask more questions, and spend more time collaborating with classmates. Then, on Fridays, we have shorter classes, a little time for a nutrition program, and an early release at 1:35pm. We use the time after students are out for teachers’ professional development because we are dedicated to helping both students and our staff succeed!
Advisory = Every Day Support
We make sure to check in with our students every day. We schedule Advisory so teachers can offer daily support in academics and in life!
Our NMSS advisory focuses on four primary areas:
(1) Personal Development
(2) Social Responsibility
(3) College and Career
(4) Community Building
Each advisory teacher serves as the students’ home/school connection and counseling support for four years so that students are connected to consistent adult guidance with studies, student relationships, and planning for college. All students are known well and supported through small advisory groups of 15-20 students. A credentialed teacher serves as advisor and works with the same students through graduation. The advisory structure provides a small focused support group to motivate and support each individual student’s progress.
Daily Schedule
Regular Schedule (M, T, W, Th,)
Monday & Wednesday – Odd Periods (1, 3, Adv., 5, 7)
Tuesday & Thursday – Even Periods + Period 7 (2, 4, Adv., 6, 7)
8:30am –10:10am Period 1/2
10:15am –11:55am Period 3/4
12:00pm –12:15pm Advisory
12:15pm –12:45pm Lunch
12:50pm –2:30pm Period 5/6
2:35pm – 3:40pm Period 7
Variety of Learning Methods = Engaged Students
This block schedule gives our small school flexibility with scheduling so students can easily accelerate or get caught up as is appropriate for their learning style. Our small public school prepares you for college or wherever your bright future path goes.
Teachers benefit from our block schedule too. They have more time to plan classes, strategize with colleagues, and offer one-on-one time with students.
Instead of having a stream of students coming and going in a short period of time, teachers spend time developing relationships with students.
Because of a longer class period, teachers can further a student’s engagement by finding supplemental materials that are related. Personalized and supportive learning is what sets NMSS apart!
Dual Enrollment through East LA Community College & Southwest College is easier to schedule because of our schedule. These free, college-level classes are taught on our campus or online.
If you want to see for yourself how block scheduling can benefit your high school experience, we invite you to visit our campus. At tuition-free NMSS we’re proud to be an engaging high school, where we teach our students to thrive in an increasingly global, technology-driven society. Join our NMSS family and enroll today!
About NMSS
The New Millennium Secondary School (NMSS) is a tuition-free charter high school in Gardena, CA committed to preparing students to become life-long learners and dynamic leaders in the competitive 21st century. Our public high school students enjoy a small school education with big school sports and accredited community college classes. Enroll today.
