A typical school day starts at 8:00 a.m. Following first period we have IGS (Informational Gathering Session). This is similar to homeroom. One big difference between the Academies and other schools is the length of the school day. School ends at 4:10 p.m., but if you choose to participate in a sport, the day may end even later.

Academy classes are divided into periods that are approximately 50 minutes long. Each day's schedule is different: Monday schedules are similar to Thursdays and Tuesdays are similar to Fridays. Wednesdays are unique. All students take a 2-period class called Projects except seniors who have internships.

Each student has a certain number of free periods. This is when they have no scheduled classes but may have study halls. They may choose to do their homework or utilize the time to meet up with teachers, project partners or study with friends.

The last hour of the day is dedicated to electives, or on Wednesdays, clubs. Students may participate in a sport instead of taking an elective. Students may also stay in school late to work on a project with a group or use materials only available in the school.

Please be aware that Bergen County Academies offers an academically rigorous curriculum along with a wide range of unique opportunities that are seldom found in other schools. Given our highly competitive acceptance rate, we seek families who are fully committed to our Extended School Day and the comprehensive educational experience we provide.

If your child has substantial extracurricular obligations or a demanding schedule outside of school, particularly if those obligations conflict with BCA’s Extended School Day, we encourage you to thoughtfully consider whether our program is the right fit. BCA is designed for students who are ready to fully engage in the academic and enrichment aspects of our school for the entire extended school day.