Would you prefer year-round or traditional school for your LO?

McKee3 · April 2011

We're trying to decide where to move and I'm of course thinking about schools for DD. If you were deciding between two good schools and one was traditional and the other was year-round, which would you prefer and why? I don't know a lot about the advantages and disadvantages so I would love to hear opinions from other parents. Thanks!

franciscaz · April 2011

I would choose traditional for 3 reasons.

First I've had some friends in Utah where year round is real common tell me that they struggle getting their kids on the same track. I couldn't imagine one kid with one break and another kid with another break. If that were a possibility and you want more kids that would be a total deal breaker.

Second my teacher friends tell me it is very difficult for kids academically. I don't know why but I guess the frequent breaks mess up continuity.

Finally I work. When the twins hit pre-k I'll be going back to the office (instead of working from home. The traditional Summer school break is a great time for really fun Summer offerings like Space Summer School etc. I would love my kids to not miss out on that and it will be easier to schedule Summer child care than in daycare one month out 3... etc.

howleyshell · April 2011

Our district used to be YRE and based on what my friends had to say it SUCKED!

If both parents work you must must must have a local municipality who does "off track child care". For us the ONLY option is the program thru the rec center. It's not stellar but it's the only option for what to do with your kids for the 1-2 weeks that they're off throughout the year.

As the kids get older and the parents want them to be able to participate in summer sports camp programs it's hit or miss for them based on when their down times are.

It's more difficult to coordinate vacations to meet up with family if they have kids also vs. a traditional school year where there's gonna be at least 1-2 whole months that will overlap in the summer.

Educationally speaking I'm sure there are plenty of advantages to not having a full summer of down time to forget everything you've learned and get out of the "habit" of learning and school but I personally think that as long as you're proactive as a parent with occasional structured learning to reinforce the last years lessons it's not that big a deal.

I mean - I went to traditional school, had summers off and did well above average in school and then in college.

I think that the concept of YRE is a good one - I just don't think that our society has gotten on board to make it a good, viable option for the majority of families in the US based on work demands, etc.

FWIW - our district has phased out pretty much all of the YRE schools in our district and converted them back to traditional.

Our district was so effed up that some of the schools were YRE but not all. Can you imagine having a kid in elementary who was in YRE and another in middle that was in traditional? It was a mess.

mabma80 · April 2011

I think year round would be nice. I liked it in college. However, our boys go to Catholic school and they do a traditional school year. Besides, DS#1 only goes two days/wk right now. He'll go three days/wk next year, then on to Kindergarden full time.

The advantage of year round is that they are continously learning. They have a two week break every three months (quarter), so they don't forget to much about what they've learned. Disadvantage is that if they have neighborhood friends in a traditional school year, your child will be in school, while the other kids will be off for the summer. But, that's not that big of a deal cause they'll make friends in school.

McKee3 · April 2011

Thanks, this is good info. The school we really want is traditional and it's the one I prefer too, but it helps a lot to hear the pros and cons. Thanks again ladies!

Jinsy80 · April 2011

Definitely traditional. I would hate to have my kids miss out on a real summer. Also, it seems like childcare is a PITA. Three weeks off at a time vs. the summer off (and they can go to camp)...

schnappycat · April 2011

howleyshell:
Our district used to be YRE and based on what my friends had to say it SUCKED!
If both parents work you must must must have a local municipality who does "off track child care". For us the ONLY option is the program thru the rec center. It's not stellar but it's the only option for what to do with your kids for the 1-2 weeks that they're off throughout the year.
As the kids get older and the parents want them to be able to participate in summer sports camp programs it's hit or miss for them based on when their down times are.
It's more difficult to coordinate vacations to meet up with family if they have kids also vs. a traditional school year where there's gonna be at least 1-2 whole months that will overlap in the summer.
Educationally speaking I'm sure there are plenty of advantages to not having a full summer of down time to forget everything you've learned and get out of the "habit" of learning and school but I personally think that as long as you're proactive as a parent with occasional structured learning to reinforce the last years lessons it's not that big a deal.
I mean - I went to traditional school, had summers off and did well above average in school and then in college.
I think that the concept of YRE is a good one - I just don't think that our society has gotten on board to make it a good, viable option for the majority of families in the US based on work demands, etc.

FWIW - our district has phased out pretty much all of the YRE schools in our district and converted them back to traditional.
Our district was so effed up that some of the schools were YRE but not all. Can you imagine having a kid in elementary who was in YRE and another in middle that was in traditional? It was a mess.

Howleyshell, I was under the understanding that our neighborhood school still is year round. I think there are 3 tracks at DS's school, still. Will that be phasing out, too? Any idea?

howleyshell · April 2011

schnappycat:
Howleyshell, I was under the understanding that our neighborhood school still is year round. I think there are 3 tracks at DS's school, still. Will that be phasing out, too? Any idea?

I honestly don't know.

All I know is that my neighbor told me that Eagle Ridge lost a TON of students (and funding) when Lone Tree opened. Parents were frank that they wanted their kids on traditional and Lone Tree offered it.

Add to that the addition of so many charter schools (Sky View Academy and Platte) and DC realized that they were loosing head count because parents were not happy with the YRE format.

I mean seriously.... how the heck can a family deal with 2 kids on 2 different tracks? And how the heck can the district manage to keep siblings on the same track all the time year after year?

It's a logistical night mare for them.

No clue what's going on with your school. I'm sure if you ask around you'll get the low down. You could even ask the ST and I'd bet she'd know the latest gossip about who's going traditional and who'll go YRE.

The sucky thing is that there a BUNCH of kids in our neighborhood (including our next door neighbor that you saw us talking with while the kids played - daughter Dylan's age) that now go to Lone Tree. The parents would love for them to go to Eagle Ridge but they've got older kids that started pre-school at LT ages ago and they understandably don't want their kids at 2 different schools.

YRE didn't work out well and I'm sad that it's divided our neighborhood.

schnappycat · April 2011

howleyshell:
schnappycat:
Howleyshell, I was under the understanding that our neighborhood school still is year round. I think there are 3 tracks at DS's school, still. Will that be phasing out, too? Any idea?
I honestly don't know.
All I know is that my neighbor told me that Eagle Ridge lost a TON of students (and funding) when Lone Tree opened. Parents were frank that they wanted their kids on traditional and Lone Tree offered it.
Add to that the addition of so many charter schools (Sky View Academy and Platte) and DC realized that they were loosing head count because parents were not happy with the YRE format.
I mean seriously.... how the heck can a family deal with 2 kids on 2 different tracks? And how the heck can the district manage to keep siblings on the same track all the time year after year?
It's a logistical night mare for them.
No clue what's going on with your school. I'm sure if you ask around you'll get the low down. You could even ask the ST and I'd bet she'd know the latest gossip about who's going traditional and who'll go YRE.
The sucky thing is that there a BUNCH of kids in our neighborhood (including our next door neighbor that you saw us talking with while the kids played - daughter Dylan's age) that now go to Lone Tree. The parents would love for them to go to Eagle Ridge but they've got older kids that started pre-school at LT ages ago and they understandably don't want their kids at 2 different schools.
YRE didn't work out well and I'm sad that it's divided our neighborhood.

Interesting. Yes, I always wondered how people with more than 1 kid, especially those who work, could possibly manage. Logistically, it is nuts.

I'll ask around, but I'm nearly certain that Redstone is still YR. I really don't like it, but since I SAH, it's not the huge deal it is to many others. I thought I read online somewhere that it is YR because the school is just not large enough to handle all of the students. If that is the case, what a shame.

hcassell · April 2011

We're homeschooling, but we'll be doing year round. I'm planning on eight weeks one, one off, along with three-four off in June. I don't want a huge break in the summer and to review concepts. But we'll be done with our school days around lunchtime, so we'll still have the afternoons to enjoy other activities.

jlw2505 · April 2011

I would love to do year round depending on how they break things up with vacations. I work full time and having to find care for my girls for 3 months is not easy. I think it would be easier to plan for 2 weeks every few months than 3 months in a row plus I think kids really do benefit from learning all the time vs having a huge break in the summer. Granted, that being said, I think I would not want my kids to miss the chance to do summer camps and some of the other fun stuff that I did as a kid so maybe something that is middle ground like getting a longer break mid summer and then shorter breaks throughout the rest of the year or something like that.

Pesky · April 2011

traditional primarily because I know it can be difficult if not impossible to get kids on the same schedule which makes it tough to take family vacations and even with one, if the friends are on different tracks, that can be tough for that time off (who would they play with?).

ETA: FWIW, I am in the same area as howleyshel and I know the school we feed into dropped one of its tracks already and is slowly moving to a traditional because they are losing students to traditional track schools nearby.

schnappycat · April 2011

Pesky:
traditional primarily because I know it can be difficult if not impossible to get kids on the same schedule which makes it tough to take family vacations and even with one, if the friends are on different tracks, that can be tough for that time off (who would they play with?).
ETA: FWIW, I am in the same area as howleyshel and I know the school we feed into dropped one of its tracks already and is slowly moving to a traditional because they are losing students to traditional track schools nearby.

Hey, I am, too! I live about 2 miles from Howley, which is the reason for my annoying questions. LOL!

KL777 · April 2011

Traditional! The kids need a break. Let them have some fun during the nicest time of the year---temperature wise.

cecee36 · May 2011

I'd prefer year-round if it were an option where we live. I'd also be OK with the school hours being extended until say, 5:00. I used to teach Pre-K and K and while lots of teachers were against year round school, I (and a few others) was in the minority. Year round school will help our kids compete academically with other children in countries like Japan. Japanese students already attend school year round and they are achieving more in math and science because of it. The reason our kids get summers off in the first place is because back in the old days they had to help their parents plant crops. I can't tell you the last time I helped my mom plant anything--LOL.

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