Year-round
In a year-round middle schools, the traditional 180-day school year is divided into nine-week quarters with a three-week break at the end of each quarter. Students are in school the same number of days as their counterparts in traditional schools. Their days are simply redistributed throughout the year. The reorganized schedule is called a 45/15 calendar - 45 days in school, 15 days off. An Adobe Acrobat (22 KB) version of the calendar is available.
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Students are divided into four groups, called tracks, with each track having its own calendar and its own teachers. Schedules are staggered so that, at any given time, three tracks are in school and one is on break. These staggered schedules make it possible for the school to serve up to thirty-three percent more students than its intended capacity.
Year-round schools provide a more continuous learning process. Since students do not have a long summer vacation, major reviewing in the fall is eliminated. Students and teachers are more energized throughout the year due to regular breaks. The three-week breaks provide frequent enrichment and remedial opportunities (intersession) for students during the year.
In a year-round magnet middle school, teams of teachers work with teams of students in an interdisciplinary approach. Elective offerings are built into the schedule evenly across all tracks, with course offerings determined on the basis of student surveys.
Year-round middle school students may participate in all extracurricular activities. Athletics are open to all seventh and eighth graders who qualify. Students who are members of an athletic team are responsible for returning to school for practice and competition during breaks.