Lowell High School

Lowell High School is a prestigious public magnet school in San Francisco, California.

Modular ("Mod") System

Lowell has a unique scheduling system consisting of twenty modules. Originally instituted to alleviate crowding of facilities by having a percentage of students not attending class at any particular time, the system has also allowed for more freedom and choice for Lowell students. Students can schedule classes and still leave time for activities that interest them. Self-scheduling begins with the second semester of the freshman year. Students learn quickly how to allot time for such activities as student government, club activities, or serving as a teaching assistant (TA). The system can sometimes be a confusing challenge for incoming freshmen. (It is a common joke that by the time a student has mastered the mod system, it is already time for him/her to graduate.)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Some classes meet for 40 minutes daily, some an hour each, and some for a combination of the two. Students will often have modules when they have no class. Several resource centers are available for student use during free mods. Using that free time wisely is an important part of the college preparatory training students receive at Lowell.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~