Ah, those summer months full of sun and fun! Your kiddos can’t get enough of them, and we can’t blame ’em. It’s a break from the school year—even for year-round schools.

Yes! You read that correctly. Contrary to popular belief, even year-round schools get summer breaks. Reviews are mixed regarding year-round schooling, but there are pros and cons you can weigh to determine if year-round schools are a right fit for your family.

How does year-round schooling work?

Year-round schools are not open 24/7. Traditional private or public schools range up to 180 days of instruction, and most year-round schools have about the same amount of instructional days. The difference is how year-round schools approach the school calendar.

The most common model of the year-round calendar is 45-15, which is 45 days of instruction followed by a 15-day break called an intersession. Students attend school and have intersessions in the fall, winter, and spring, followed by a four- to six-week summer vacation.

The pros of year-round education

Year-round education prevents teacher burnout with frequent breaks throughout the school year. On top of that, if overcrowded classrooms are a concern, year-round schools can divvy up students’ breaks, allowing students to learn in the same classroom but at different times.

Furthermore, consistent instruction prevents summer learning loss AKA the summer slide. Year-round schooling is often used as an academic remedy so the school’s student body requires less review and improves knowledge retention.

The cons of year-round education

Some argue that year-round schools harm summer industries like summer camps, tourist spots, and more. If a school is transitioning from the traditional schedule, the switch may be costly. Schools have to account for staff development, communication, storage, planning, utilities, maintenance, and more.

Additionally, families may have to juggle scheduling and planning for childcare since intercessions are longer and more frequent.

In turn, the traditional school calendar serves high schoolers in particular with seasonal sports and summer jobs, schooling, or other learning opportunities.

Are there other opportunities for year-round learning?

Yes, there is another way for your student to learn year-round! Laurel Springs School, an accredited K-12 private school, offers an online self-paced summer program for students in grades 3-12. Students can complete semester-long courses in six weeks or year-long courses in just 12 weeks. With weekly rolling start dates from April 5, our summer program helps combat the summer learning slide, prepares students for the upcoming school year, and allows for academic exploration in other subjects.

We don’t follow the year-round calendar, but our enrolled full-time students in the Academy and our K-12 program can set their own pace for learning throughout the year. Students may either work at the suggested pace set by their Laurel Springs Portal or work to create their own schedules individually or with the help of their counselor. Students and their families can also customize their school calendar with up to 10 blackout dates for vacation, travel, or a day off.

Learn more about our school’s pacing and programs by speaking with an Admissions Counselor today.

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