MCPS Considering Beginning 2020-21 School Calendar Year Before Labor Day

[Anonymous]

Why are people so invested in having late August off when the alternative is simply to have early June off?

There is a very weird obsession with the notion that school MUST start after Labor Day, despite valid education-based arguments for starting earlier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Why are people so invested in having late August off when the alternative is simply to have early June off?

There is a very weird obsession with the notion that school MUST start after Labor Day, despite valid education-based arguments for starting earlier.

Why isn't there a similar obsession with the notion that school MUST end before Memorial Day?

[Anonymous]

Why isn't there an obsession for a mid-winter break in February?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why isn't there an obsession for a mid-winter break in February?

Because February isn't the middle of winter, obviously!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why isn't there an obsession for a mid-winter break in February?

Because February isn't the middle of winter, obviously!

Winter is ~Dec. 21st to ~March 20th, making the mid-point ~Feb. 4th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why isn't there an obsession for a mid-winter break in February?

Because February isn't the middle of winter, obviously!

Winter is ~Dec. 21st to ~March 20th, making the mid-point ~Feb. 4th.

Eh, tell that to the weather. It's generally starting to be spring here by the end of February, and that's only going to get earlier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Why are people so invested in having late August off when the alternative is simply to have early June off?

There is a very weird obsession with the notion that school MUST start after Labor Day, despite valid education-based arguments for starting earlier.

Please post your valid education-based arguments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Almost every private high school in the DC Metro starts after Labor Day and they all get much higher AP grades than public. Not to mention most schools up north start even later and also take their AP's without difficulty. Many boarding schools start mid September and they all take the AP's and do great. So stop using that lame excuse for a reason to start before Labor Day.

SAT scores are offered year round.

The trend is not to have APs at private schools, so “almost every private school” is not correct.

Well to the private school's defense, they are a kinda a money making scam for the college board since most kids fail their AP tests. Most take it because schools will weigh the GPA and that is what they want. You do not need to report the scores if you fail. Some teacher with a BS from Towson, teaching college courses is not ideal.

That said, the private school kids still sit for AP's and pass them all the time, especially at junior year to brag to colleges. Which is really all they are. Resume builders

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why isn't there an obsession for a mid-winter break in February?

Because February isn't the middle of winter, obviously!

Winter is ~Dec. 21st to ~March 20th, making the mid-point ~Feb. 4th.

Eh, tell that to the weather. It's generally starting to be spring here by the end of February, and that's only going to get earlier.

We had a snow day in March

[Anonymous]

Many school districts on Long Island don't start until the Wednesday after Labor Day. They also get the Jewish holidays off AND a February mid-winter break. Those kids do just fine on their AP exams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many school districts on Long Island don't start until the Wednesday after Labor Day. They also get the Jewish holidays off AND a February mid-winter break. Those kids do just fine on their AP exams.

I'm wondering how you know this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many school districts on Long Island don't start until the Wednesday after Labor Day. They also get the Jewish holidays off AND a February mid-winter break. Those kids do just fine on their AP exams.

I'm wondering how you know this.

Because I went to public high school on Long Island and so did my spouse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Almost every private high school in the DC Metro starts after Labor Day and they all get much higher AP grades than public. Not to mention most schools up north start even later and also take their AP's without difficulty. Many boarding schools start mid September and they all take the AP's and do great. So stop using that lame excuse for a reason to start before Labor Day.

SAT scores are offered year round.

The trend is not to have APs at private schools, so “almost every private school” is not correct.

Well to the private school's defense, they are a kinda a money making scam for the college board since most kids fail their AP tests. Most take it because schools will weigh the GPA and that is what they want. You do not need to report the scores if you fail. Some teacher with a BS from Towson, teaching college courses is not ideal.

That said, the private school kids still sit for AP's and pass them all the time, especially at junior year to brag to colleges. Which is really all they are. Resume builders

Who told you most fail them?
My wootton students have gotten 4 and 5s on everything, as have most of their friends. So I’m not sure where your sample is from.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I vote for AFTER the Labor Day.

Me too!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Almost every private high school in the DC Metro starts after Labor Day and they all get much higher AP grades than public. Not to mention most schools up north start even later and also take their AP's without difficulty. Many boarding schools start mid September and they all take the AP's and do great. So stop using that lame excuse for a reason to start before Labor Day.

SAT scores are offered year round.

The trend is not to have APs at private schools, so “almost every private school” is not correct.

Most private school kids still take and pass the AP exams.