Westfield Washington Schools to Adopt Semester Schedule in 2027-28

School board approves 4-1 vote to transition from trimesters after 28 years.

Mar. 11, 2026 at 9:04pm

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Westfield Washington Schools will move from a trimester to a semester schedule starting in the 2027-28 school year, following a 4-1 vote by the school board. The change was recommended by a task force that cited benefits like improved student learning, more course selection opportunities, greater efficiency, and cost savings of around $500,000 annually.

Why it matters

The transition to semesters marks a significant shift for Westfield Washington Schools, which has used a trimester system for nearly three decades. The move aims to better align the district with neighboring schools already on semesters and address challenges posed by the district's growth, including balancing class sizes and finding space for all courses.

The details

Under the new semester system, students will earn 14 credits per year instead of the current 15 with trimesters. The district plans to offset this by allowing high school credits to be earned in middle school and offering more summer class options.

  • The school board approved the change during its March 10, 2026 meeting.
  • The new semester schedule will be implemented starting in the 2027-28 school year.

The players

Westfield Washington Schools

A public school district serving the city of Westfield, Indiana.

Alicia Denniston

Principal of Westfield High School, who presented the task force's findings to the school board.

Mike Steele

A member of the Westfield Washington Schools Board of Trustees who voted against the change.

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What they’re saying

“As we've grown bigger and we have built that trimester schedule in, we have found it harder and harder to be able to balance our class sizes and find spaces for all of our classes.”

— Alicia Denniston, Principal, Westfield High School (youarecurrent.com)

“There may be aspects of the trimester schedule we'll miss. Anytime you change something, you're going to miss some things. We are ready to embrace and leverage the advantages of a semester schedule as well.”

— Alicia Denniston, Principal, Westfield High School (youarecurrent.com)

“I needed more time to examine 'how we got there.'”

— Mike Steele, School Board Member (youarecurrent.com)

What’s next

The district will now work on developing a new bell schedule, academic calendar, and course planning to accommodate the transition to semesters.

The takeaway

Westfield Washington Schools' move to semesters reflects the district's growth and the need to adapt its academic structure. While the change will require adjustments, the school board and administration believe the benefits of improved efficiency, cost savings, and better alignment with neighboring districts outweigh the challenges of the transition.