Littleton Public Schools vs. DCSD: A Comparison On…High School Math Instructional Minutes

You need to have all pieces to see the complete picture

DougCo Parent Alliance

SIMPLISTIC ASSERTION:

Littleton High Schools have more math instructional minutes than DCSD High Schools.

THE REALITY:Littleton’s math classes are completely different

than DCSD’s and are almost impossible to compare accurately.

LET US SHOW YOU…

DougCo Parent Alliance

BLOCK SCHEDULE – DOUGLAS COUNTY

• One day a week student attends all 8 classes; the other four days have an alternating block schedule

• All classes meet the same number of days per week

• All classes have equal instructional time

VARIABLE SCHEDULE - LITTLETON

Littleton (LPS) vs. DCSD: Vast Differences in Scheduling Approaches

• Similar to college semester schedule: classes per week vary based on different factors

• Different number of days per class per week*

• Classes have unequal instructional time per week*

*Examples:World Civilizations meets 3 days/weekChemistry Lab meets twice/week for an extended periodForeign Language varies from 3 to 5 classes per week depending on the level

Schedule Comparison: Arapahoe HS (LPS) & Highlands Ranch HS (DCSD)

Typical Freshman Schedule: ARAPAHOE HIGH SCHOOL

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday FridayInst Min Per

Week1st L. A. L. A. L. A. L. A. L. A. 2952nd History History History History History 2953rd Spanish Spanish Spanish 177

Elective Elective 1184th Math Math Math Off Period Math 2365th Science Off Period Science Science Lab Science 2366th Music App. Music App Music App. 177

Elective Elective 118

Typical Freshman Schedule: HIGHLANDS RANCH HIGH SCHOOL

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday FridayInst Min Per

Week1st Math Math Math 2312nd Spanish Spanish Spanish 2313rd Elective Elective Elective 2314th History History History 2315th Study Hall Study Hall Study Hall 2316th Elective Elective Elective 2317th Science Science Science 2318th PE PE PE 231

UNBALANCED: Between 118 and 295 minutes per

class

BALANCED: 231 minutes

per class

DougCo Parent Alliance

HIGHLANDS RANCH HIGH SCHOOLARAPAHOE HIGH SCHOOL

Math Requirements:Arapahoe HS and Highlands Ranch HS

• 2 years of math required for graduation

• Math instructional minutes are different for different math classes

• 8 courses meet 4 days/wk• 236 minutes

• 5 courses meet 5 days/wk• 295 minutes

• 4 courses meet 3 days/wk• 177 minutes

• 3 years of math required for graduation

• Math instructional minutes are the same for every math class

• All classes are 231 minutes/week

DougCo Parent Alliance

Bottom LineIn the Assertion, the average of all DCSD schools were compared to the individual classes with the most instructional minutes in Littleton Public Schools.

DCSD math graduation requirements are HIGHER than the Littleton schools in the comparison.

The Math classes in Littleton schools have different instructional minutes per class and DCSD’s are all the same

Schedules vary from school to school, district to district.

For a more accurate

comparison, use average

instructional minutes for

each school, not just one

class!

Difficult to compare, not apples to apples

DCSD students get MORE math instruction overall!

DougCo Parent Alliance

Conclusion When viewing information about our school district keep these

things in mind.

• Verify that the information is complete and accurate.• Make sure the comparison being made is meaningful and fair.• Visit the sources and dig deeper, i.e. look at all the schools in the

districts we are being compared to.• Ask yourself why weren’t you supplied with the complete information• Ask questions.

DougCo Parent Alliance

DougCo Parent AllianceWe find the missing pieces……

Contact dougcoparentalliance@gmail.com if you have questions regarding information being presented to the community. We will research it thoroughly and can help provide the missing pieces for you.