Course Audits

SchoolWorks® helps schools and districts evaluate the effectiveness of their academic offerings through comprehensive Course Audits. Through a structured evaluation of curriculum alignment, instructional time, and student outcomes, SchoolWorks identifies opportunities to strengthen course design, improve equity and access, and ensure academic programs fully support college, career, and life readiness.

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Our Process

Working collaboratively with school and district leaders, SchoolWorks conducts a systematic evaluation of a school’s course offerings, curriculum structure, and instructional systems. Our team reviews key documents and data sets and gathers stakeholder perspectives through surveys of teachers, students, and families.

Using this evidence, we analyze how courses align with educational goals, standards, and student needs. The result is a clear set of findings and recommendations that help leaders optimize course design, strengthen instructional coherence, and improve academic outcomes.

Curriculum Scope and Sequence Analysis

We evaluate curriculum maps, course syllabi, and pacing guides to determine whether the curriculum provides a coherent progression of skills and knowledge across grade levels. This analysis examines vertical alignment between grades and horizontal alignment within grade levels to identify gaps, redundancies, or misalignment with standards and college- and career-readiness expectations.

Scheduling and Instructional Time Review

SchoolWorks analyzes master schedules, bell schedules, and course timing to determine whether instructional time is structured to support student mastery. This includes examining the duration and frequency of classes, scheduling patterns, and potential barriers to course access.

Enrollment Patterns and Course Access

We review course enrollment data to assess class sizes, student grouping practices, and representation across course offerings. Particular attention is given to equity of access in advanced courses, honors programs, and specialized pathways, ensuring all students have fair opportunities to participate in rigorous academic experiences.

Program Effectiveness and Student Outcomes

Our team analyzes performance data—including grades, standardized assessments, graduation rates, and course completion—to understand whether courses are achieving their intended outcomes. This analysis highlights strengths in academic programming and identifies areas where course design or implementation may need adjustment.

Insights and Outcomes

SchoolWorks Course Audits provide school leaders with clarity around:

Alignment of curriculum across grade levels and subject areas
Gaps or redundancies in course content and sequencing
Effectiveness of scheduling and instructional time structures
Equity of access to advanced or specialized coursework
Alignment between course offerings, resources, and school priorities

These insights support important decisions such as:

Revising curriculum scope and sequence
Redesigning master schedules or instructional time
Expanding or refining advanced coursework opportunities
Improving student access to courses aligned with postsecondary goals
Strengthening coherence across academic programs

Resources

Explore our blog posts and webinars to learn more about our partnerships. If your team would like hands-on support, reach out anytime to hello@schoolworks.org. Our specialists are happy to talk with you.

Services

Quality Reviews