Reimagining the Middle School Day to Expand Opportunities for Students

Dear current and incoming middle school families,

As part of our district’s continued work to stabilize our finances through our Statutory Operating Debt (SOD) plan, and as we look ahead to the long-term, future-focused vision outlined in Reimagine Rdale: Vision 2030, we are preparing for an important change to the middle school schedule beginning next school year: a shift from a seven-period day to a six-period day.

This shift allows for consistent access to core curriculum, expanded elective course options, and a more aligned middle school experience for students across our district. By redesigning the schedule, we can create greater equity between schools, strengthen academic blocks, and provide students with meaningful opportunities for exploration.

We also recognize that, at first glance, moving from seven periods to six may raise questions about whether students will have fewer choices during an important time of growth and discovery. We want to reassure you that this change is not about reducing opportunities. Rather, it’s about organizing time more intentionally to support student learning, engagement, and consistency for all students.

A time of transition for our middle schools

This change comes during a broader transition for our middle school community. The School Board has approved adjustments to facilities and programming as part of the SOD plan, including the closure of Robbinsdale Middle School (RMS), the discontinuation of the FAIR Crystal middle school magnet program, and the expansion of our middle school Spanish immersion programming at Plymouth Middle School to include Sandburg Middle School. We know these are significant and, for many students and families, deeply personal changes.

If you would like to review previous communications about these transitions, you can find them here:

• FAIR Crystal transition message
• Robbinsdale Middle School transition message
• Plymouth Middle School Spanish Immersion update

As we move forward, our commitment is to ensure that every middle school student, no matter which building they attend, has access to strong academics, rich electives, and a supportive environment.

Why change the schedule?

Right now, our middle schools operate very differently from one another:

• Class periods range from 44 to 47 minutes at our current middle schools, which adds up to the equivalent of more than 11 full class periods of difference over a school year
• Advisory times range from 15 to 30 minutes depending on the school
• Elective offerings are not consistent across sites

This means students can have very different middle school experiences simply based on which building they attend. 

• Moving to a six-period day helps us create a more equitable and student-centered model across both of our right-sized middle schools.

What does a 6-period day make possible?

This new schedule will:

• Increase instructional time in core academic classes
• Reduce transitions and passing time, helping students stay more focused during the day
• Create consistent bell schedules across middle schools
• Ensure all students maintain access to the same possibilities, no matter which school they attend
• Use staff time more efficiently, allowing us to protect and strengthen programming

Most importantly, this model supports a middle school experience that is aligned across the district and designed intentionally for students.

Will students still have allied arts (electives)?

Yes, and this is one of the biggest benefits of the change. Students at both middle schools will now have access to the same allied arts (elective) options and district curriculum.

Elective areas available at both sites will include:

• Fine Arts:
  • Band, Orchestra, Choir, General Music
  • Visual Art
  • Theater
  • Media Arts
• Design and Innovation
• Wellness:
  • Physical Education
  • Recreation and Leisure
  • Health
• Global Language
• AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination)

We also heard from families that students value the ability to take two music courses (for example, band and choir, or orchestra and choir). While a seven-period day might seem like it would make that easier, our previous scheduling structures did not consistently allow for it. The new six-period model is intentionally designed so that students can fit two music courses into their schedule.

What about students receiving special education services?

Students who receive special education services will continue to have access to electives, based on their Individualized Education Program (IEP) and service needs. Because programming will now be aligned across both middle schools, students will have more consistent access to supports and opportunities regardless of location.

Important: In-district transfer timeline for 2026-27

We know many families are carefully considering where their students will attend school next year, especially with upcoming changes to middle school programming. We also know that reliable transportation is an important factor for many households. To receive district-provided transportation, students must attend their assigned boundary-area school.

Because we must finalize staffing, course offerings, and transportation plans earlier than in past years, we are making an important change to the in-district transfer timeline for secondary students.

Families of students entering grades 6-12 for the 2026-27 school year who would like their student to attend a middle or high school other than their assigned boundary-area school must submit an in-district transfer application no later than the end of the day on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026.

After that date, no in-district transfer requests will be accepted for the first semester of the 2026-27 school year. We communicated this information in a message the weeks of Feb. 2 and Feb. 9.

For more information about enrollment options, please visit rdale.org/enroll. To apply for an intra-district transfer, go directly to enrollmentoptions.rdale.org. If you have questions or need assistance, please contact our Enrollment Center at 763-504-8080 or enrollment@rdale.org.

Looking ahead

By aligning our middle schools and redesigning the school day, we are building a more consistent, equitable, and opportunity-rich system for all students—not just in one building, but across the entire district.

We look forward to sharing more details about transition events and information fairs at Plymouth and Sandburg middle schools in the coming months. Thank you for your partnership as we continue this important work together.

Sincerely,

Dr. Bob McDowell
Assistant Superintendent
Robbinsdale Area Schools