Of the approximately 550 AHS students, 223 responded to a survey about class length. Almost half of the students at Aspen High School think the classes are long, while just over 10% of the students think class times are perfect as they are.

Nationally, schools are on the same page. Studies have shown that students tend to perform better in shorter, more efficient classes than a long 90-minute class.

Some might argue that extended class times allow teachers to have more uninterrupted time to teach and explore a wider range of teaching techniques, including hands-on projects, group exercises, and teacher-led lectures. They can improve students’ comprehension and prompt consistent focus by allowing students more time to learn and engage with content and materials. Additionally, fewer transitions throughout the day can lead to fewer disciplinary issues.

However, shorter classes also have some positives, including improvements in the retention of information. Students retain more information during shorter, more intensive classes than they do in longer periods. Shorter classes also prompt a higher level of focus, which can ultimately lead to a greater retention of information.

Many students at AHS participate in extracurricular activities such as teams and clubs, which often require leaving school early. Aspen’s remote location results in travel times ranging from one to five hours one way. When a student has to miss a 90-minute class that covers a significant amount of material during that time, it is a substantial amount to catch up on, and could result in students falling behind and their grades slipping. With shorter class times, students are able to catch up more easily after missing school.

Studies show that a child’s attention span is approximately two to three times their age in minutes. According to this information, high school students can only focus for about 30-35 minutes. AHS’s current 90-minute class periods make it biologically harder to retain information and stay engaged.

90-minute-long periods can be used well if the teacher disperses them with different activities, but the time is often not used appropriately.