Yvonne Ballesteros, a senior at UCLA, interviewed students at Roosevelt High School regarding their feelings about the year-round, multi-tracking system at their school.

I enjoy being in Track C because that’s when the Magnet Program is run during the year. However, I feel that sometimes the year-round program is unfair because when a class is not offered during a track, we have to cross-track and take the class during our vacation. Also, there are more Advanced Placement (AP) classes in Track A than there are in Track C. This is difficult because we do not have time to work or participate in other activities during our vacation. Some students complain about it, but it is hard to change or switch tracks completely. Also, sometimes after the long break between semesterswe forget what we have learned or where we left off."

Jacqueline Rocha
Roosevelt High School
Grade 11, Track C

"I have been in the track system for all of my education, so I am not too familiar with the regular calendar. One of things that I am concerned about is that some classes, like Calculus BC, are not offered in the track that I am in (Track C). I have taken inter-session since my ninth grade year, and the only vacation that I have had from classes is right now and I am in the eleventh grade. Another concern of mine is that some students are not passing the High School Graduation exams, and I feel that something needs to be done about that.

Pablo Flores
Roosevelt High School
Grade 11, Track C

Overall, I have turned my experience at Roosevelt and in the track system into a positive one. I have taken inter-session to take classes not offered in my track, and now I am working at an elementary school nearby. Track C has the most AP and Honors courses, so sometimes it is difficult for students in other tracks to take these classes because it all depends on if there are teachers for those classes. During our vacation between semesters, some teachers assign reading or homework problems, so that we do not forget what we learned, but others don't.

Tania Gomez
Roosevelt High School
11th Grade, Track C

In my opinion, I do not like Track B that much because there is too big of a gap between semesters (two months) and so it is easy to forget what I learned in the previous track. So I would recommend Track A or Track C. And although some teachers give us work during the break, most students finish it the first week of vacation and do not really review work over the rest of the break. Being a student at Roosevelt has been positive because some teachers take the time to help me and explain things.

Alex Nañez
Roosevelt High School
11th Grade, Track B

It seems that Tracks A, B, C are in some type of class structure or hierarchy, Track C being the first class because almost all of the AP and Honors classes are given during that time. Then Track A is after because it has most of the advanced classes, and then it is Track B, which I think is the worst because the students have a break within the semester and it gets confusing and I find it hard to remember what I learned before. The school seems to rank students’ future. Also, if you want to be in band you have to cross track. Students don’t have a time to rest when they need it. Also, it is not fair because I don’t have summers off because I have to miss school to participate in summer academic programs at UCLA, for example. Certain things are not accessible to some students and there is a limit to what you can do. I think this kind of system is too confusing and doesn’t seem to help because Roosevelt did not do too well on the state exams.

Rudy Lopez
Roosevelt High School
Grade 11, Track B

Have any thoughts about these statements? Please go to the Talk Back page for information on how to contact TCLA.

go to top ^