Durham Public Schools Year-Round Calendar

What is a Year-Round Calendar?

A year-round calendar is a school schedule that divides the school year into shorter, more frequent terms. Instead of the traditional nine-month school year with a long summer break, a year-round calendar typically has four or five nine-week terms with shorter breaks in between.

Why Does Durham Public Schools Use a Year-Round Calendar?

Durham Public Schools uses a year-round calendar to provide students with more frequent breaks throughout the school year. This schedule also helps to prevent learning loss over the summer and allows for more flexible scheduling of vacations and other activities.

The Benefits of a Year-Round Calendar

Preventing Learning Loss

Research has shown that students can experience significant learning loss over the summer break, especially in subjects like math and reading. A year-round calendar helps to prevent this loss by providing shorter breaks throughout the year.

Flexibility

A year-round calendar also allows for more flexibility when scheduling vacations and other activities. Families can take advantage of the shorter breaks to plan trips and other activities without worrying about missing too much school.

Reducing Stress

The shorter terms of a year-round calendar can help to reduce stress for both students and teachers. With more frequent breaks, students have more time to recharge and teachers have more time to plan and prepare for the next term.

The Challenges of a Year-Round Calendar

Childcare

One of the challenges of a year-round calendar is finding childcare during the shorter breaks. Parents may need to arrange for additional childcare during these times, which can be difficult and expensive.

Summer Jobs

A year-round calendar can also make it more difficult for students to find summer jobs. With shorter breaks throughout the year, there may not be as much time for students to work during the summer months.

FAQs

How Long are the Breaks?

The breaks in a year-round calendar are typically one to three weeks long, depending on the schedule.

When Does the School Year Start and End?

The start and end dates of the school year vary depending on the schedule. Durham Public Schools typically starts in mid-August and ends in mid-June.

Are Year-Round Schools More Expensive?

Year-round schools are not necessarily more expensive than traditional schools. The cost can vary depending on the schedule and other factors, such as staffing and maintenance.

Conclusion

Durham Public Schools’ year-round calendar provides students with more frequent breaks throughout the school year, helping to prevent learning loss and reduce stress. While there are challenges to this schedule, such as finding childcare and summer jobs, the benefits make it a popular choice for many families in the district.