Academic, Co-Curricular Activity and Athletic Time Requirements
Given all the academic and activity choices Duxbury High School offers for students, it is important for families to have specific information on the time necessary for both academic and co-curricular student pursuits. We all want
our students to be well prepared for whatever their future will offer them, so it's important to know what time
commitments the various school activities require in order for students to get the most out of their high
school experience.
Advanced Placement (AP) courses are generally the most time-intensive, with one hour of
homework/preparation needed for every hour spent in class. AP Science courses require an in-school
semester long lab component as well as class time, so that would result in additional work. If a student
undertakes 4 AP courses, it is likely they are looking at 16 hours per week of homework for those (most
courses meet 4 times per week on a 7 period rotating schedule), plus additional time spent on academic
courses on the honors and college prep level. It would not be unusual for a student with a very rigorous
academic program to spend more than 20 hours per week on out-of-school class preparation.
We are all fortunate that there are so many interesting activities provided by the school staff, but a good
balance must be struck so teens get their rest while taking advantage of all the Duxbury Schools have to
offer. Details of expected practice and competition times for various sports is provided in the menu to the left, as well as
typical weekly time requirements for music, drama, community/school service and other activities.
The value and benefits of sport and other high school activities is clear, as lots of learning and self-discovery
happens during those times. The key is to find a balance between academics, activities, family
responsibilities and to reserve some free time just for what you like to do. A little goofing off is a good
thing.
Families should understand that individual students may need more or less time for
homework assignments than the academic guidelines below. Also, there will be variations
between nights or weeks in terms of course work and activities, so students may need to
budget their time wisely during particularly busy periods.
Before committing to an activity, families are welcomed and advised to speak with the faculty advisor for the activity for accurate current information about the time demands on students.