Office hours have long been one of the most valuable resources available to students at Middletown South. Not understanding a topic? Take 15 minutes out of your lunch or free block and stop by your teacher’s room for some extra help. Office hours help students prepare for tests, projects, and, most importantly, college, as the system in place at Middletown South closely resembles the office hour systems used by colleges and universities around the country. Office hours give students the opportunity to build closer relationships with their teachers and practice utilizing all the resources they have available.

There is a clear correlation between office hours and GPA increase. A study published by Ball State’s Jacob Smith found that students enrolled in 100 level courses (similar to the AP and Dual Enrollment courses offered here at South) found that students who did utilize office hours gained about 0.085 points on their GPA per office hour session. Similarly, a study published in the Journal of Political Science Education found that office hour visits were clearly correlated with an increase in academic performance. Mrs. D’Urso, Honors U.S. History II and AP U.S. History teacher here at South, had this to say about office hours: “I view office hours as one of the most valuable components of the school day, regardless of class level. It creates an intentional space for students to take ownership of their learning—an opportunity to practice self-advocacy, ask meaningful questions, and engage in deeper academic inquiry beyond the structure of the classroom. Office hours cultivate independence and intrinsic motivation while allowing teachers to tailor support to individual needs. Whether it’s reviewing a complex concept, refining a writing skill, or exploring enrichment opportunities, this time strengthens the collaborative relationship between teacher and student. It reinforces the idea that learning is not confined to a class period, but rather an ongoing dialogue built on curiosity, feedback, and growth,” and, “Beyond grades or test scores, office hours promote a culture of academic partnership and perseverance. They encourage students to see their teachers as collaborators in the learning process rather than as evaluators of it, which ultimately leads to more meaningful academic growth.”

At the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year, students at South were blindsided by the news that teachers would no longer be able to offer office hours. Parents and students alike became furious regarding the change. If one of South’s core values is “personal growth while equipping students with the skills and values they need to thrive in today’s day and age,” why was one of the best tools for academic growth taken away?  The answer administration provided was teacher’s responsibility around the school. This year, more teachers are being assigned to things like hallway, lunch room, and bathroom duties during blocks 3 and 4, taking up the time they could have used during blocks 3 and 4 to provide office hours. However, seeing the negative response from students and parents to this new policy, administration came to the compromise that teachers would be given office hours, but if no students showed up in 10 minutes, teachers would be required to attend to their responsibilities. This compromise demonstrates how administrators at our school value student and parent feedback and are willing to update policies accordingly. While the office hour problem at the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year did seem like a large blow to the academic success of students at South, the new policy balances student needs with teacher responsibility in a way that benefits all parties involved.