Modular Schedule
You'll notice something different if you walk around our campus during the school day: girls sprawled on the carpet giggling and doing homework together or tucked into a quiet nook to study, no study hall or bathroom passes in sight.
We believe in helping each girl develop agency and confidence in her decisions—and it all starts with how she chooses to design her day and use her free time, thanks to our one-of-a-kind modular schedule.
The Merici Model of Education® is the hallmark of the Ursuline experience. Developed in the 1970's, the model takes into account how girls learn best. Although it was designed with high school girls in mind, the impact of this model reaches far beyond your four years on campus.
Ursuline is the only high school in Cincinnati with a modular college-like schedule that gives you the flexibility to mix classes, activities, and study time so every day feels uniquely yours. You’ll learn how to manage your time, make choices, and balance priorities.
How is the Schedule Structured?
Ursuline’s schedule based on a six-day rotation, each designated by a letter: A, B, C, D, E, or F Day.
A 20-minute time period called a “mod” is the building block of your Ursuline schedule. Each instructional day is divided into 18 mods. Each class meets for two, three, or four mods per day, depending on the subject area and place in the six-day rotation cycle (ex. science lab day vs. instructional day). The order and combination of classes is different each letter day, and each student’s schedule is unique to her.
What is a "Free" Mod?
Every Ursuline student's modular schedule includes “free mods” or designated free time each day. When you are not scheduled for a class, you are “free.” Unlike other schools' schedules, you do not have to give up an academic course to have guaranteed free time.
Having free mods helps you develop valuable time-management skills and help you learn all the things you can accomplish with just 20 minutes.
- Have homework to start before a long practice or club meeting? Use the library to focus on work.
- Have questions about a recent concept covered in class? Meet with a teacher for support.
- Need a snack and some time with friends? Head to the café for one of our famous cookies!
- Seeking a time of quiet reflection? The refuge of St. Angela’s Chapel awaits.
- Need to work on a group project? Meet classmates in the Schildmeyer Gallery or one of the Microps.
The choice is yours!
What Are the Modular Schedule’s Benefits?
The six-day rotation keeps things interesting. Classes are held at a different time each day, often with a different mixture of students in each class. This variety allows you to get to know your classmates and keeps class discussions and group dynamics fresh. Students with ADHD also thrive having shorter class blocks and built-in free time where they can seek or avoid stimulation, depending on what they need.
The schedule’s flexibility allows you to select classes that meet your interests and passions rather than being limited by grade level constraints. As you progress at Ursuline, you will have the chance to take more than the required course load within subject areas, which creates depth to your schedule that other schools often cannot provide.
Passionate about the arts? Take musical theatre and enameling.
Interested in a STEM career? Double up on math or science courses to get ahead for college.
Ursuline students gain confidence from making their own decisions about how to use their time within a supportive environment where teachers and peers are available to help. The differences in each day are purposeful and help our young women develop autonomy and adaptability that other students may not experience until college.
This resilience eases our graduates’ transition to college and carries forward throughout their life. In fact, many alumnae credit the mod schedule for helping them to achieve college and career success!
This Sounds Too Complicated
We promise it’s not! Ursuline’s modular schedule is different from other high school schedule options, but our students quickly adapt to it—creating color-coded paper schedules or checking the web-based app for reminders about what’s next in their day.
We recognize that most students come to Ursuline from schools that run traditional bell schedules. As a result, we support each girl's transition to the Merici Model of Education® across your freshman year. Through counseling classes and required study halls, we will help you understand the importance of planning and using your free mods to thoughtfully design your day. Plus, you can reach out to peer mentors to learn other tips and tricks to manage your time wisely.