Year-round schooling could combat learning loss and support consistent engagement by spreading the traditional long summer break into shorter, more frequent breaks throughout the year. But does it work? As more schools adopt modified calendars, parents and educators are considering how these schedules affect learning, family routines, and student well-being.

We recently surveyed parents and teachers about the perceived benefits and challenges of year-round school schedules. In this article, you'll learn about their support for this model, its potential effects on academic performance, and how it might align with family needs.

Key Takeaways

• 32% of teachers believe year-round school schedules are better than traditional ones.
• 1 in 3 teachers would switch districts to teach at a school with a year-round schedule.
• 2 in 3 teachers believe year-round schedules reduce learning loss during breaks.
• Teachers with year-round schedules report that their students do better in classroom behavior, maturity, engagement, test scores, material retention, grades, and homework completion than students with traditional schedules.
• 36% of parents would prefer year-round school, and 3 in 10 would switch districts to get their children into a school with a year-round schedule.

What Teachers Think About Year-Round Schooling

This section examines teachers' views on year-round schooling, including levels of support across various demographics and grade levels.

One-third of teachers indicated they would consider changing districts to teach in a school with a year-round schedule, reflecting significant interest in this approach. Among those surveyed, 32% felt that year-round schools offered benefits over traditional models, with millennials showing the strongest support at 35%. Women (33%) were slightly more likely to favor year-round schooling than men (29%).

Preferences also varied according to which grade teachers taught. Here are the percentages of each preferring a year-round schedule:

• 4th grade: 43%
• 5th grade: 43%
• 3rd grade: 40%
• 1st grade: 37%
• 7th grade: 36%
• 6th grade: 36%
• 2nd grade: 33%
• 8th grade: 32%
• Kindergarten: 30%
• 11th grade: 30%
• 12th grade: 30%
• 9th grade: 29%
• 10th grade: 24%

Some teachers also saw challenges with year-round school. They were mainly concerned about student fatigue (57%), limited summer income opportunities (55%), and fewer chances for students to participate in summer internships and programs (54%).

The Impact of School Schedules on Academic Success

The following teacher perspectives offer insights into the impact of year-round school schedules on student learning, engagement, and overall academic performance.

Two-thirds of teachers indicated that year-round schedules helped reduce learning loss during breaks. Those teaching on year-round schedules observed better classroom behavior, maturity, engagement, test scores, material retention, grades, and homework completion among their students compared to those on traditional schedules.

Teachers identified math, English, and science as the subjects that seemed to benefit most from the consistent schedule offered by year-round schooling.

Parents' Perspectives on Year-Round Schooling

Parents expressed a range of preferences for year-round schedules based on practical benefits and demographic factors

Thirty-six percent favored a year-round calendar for their child, with 3 in 10 willing to switch districts to access it. One-quarter of parents noted that a year-round schedule could reduce childcare costs, and nearly 7 in 10 believed it would improve their child's social life.

On the other hand, many parents also found issues with having their kids attend school year-round – primarily the potential for burnout. Over half of parents cited this concern, stating there wouldn't be enough long recovery breaks from school.

Grade level also shaped opinions – parents of sixth graders were the most supportive (43%). Here's the complete breakdown:

• 6th grade: 43%
• 5th grade: 42%
• 3rd grade: 41%
• 11th grade: 40%
• 1st grade: 39%
• 4th grade: 39%
• 9th grade: 38%
• 2nd grade: 36%
• 8th grade: 34%
• Kindergarten: 32%
• 7th grade: 30%
• 12th grade: 28%
• 10th grade: 27%

Support for year-round schooling also varied by demographics. Moms preferred year-round schedules slightly more than dads, at 37% versus 32%, and millennial parents showed more interest (39%) than Gen X parents (29%). Remote-working parents favored this schedule the most (38%), while non-working parents showed the least interest (31%).

What Year-Round Schooling Means for Students and Families

Year-round schooling may offer notable advantages in learning retention, social growth, and classroom engagement, especially for elementary students. Still, support for this approach varies, with many parents highlighting the challenges of adjusting family schedules and traditional expectations.

The conversation around year-round schooling brings us closer to understanding how flexible educational models can meet diverse needs in a changing world. Whether year-round schedules continue to expand or remain an alternative option, they invite us to think about what educational structures best support students' learning and development.

Methodology

We surveyed 200 American teachers on their thoughts about year-round school schedules. Among them, 64% were women, 34% were men, and 2% were nonbinary or nonconforming. Additionally, 4% were baby boomers, 31% were Gen X, 51% were millennials, and 14% were Gen Z. For comparisons, 13% of teachers taught at year-round schools, and 87% taught at traditional schools.

We also surveyed 1,000 American parents of children in grades K-12. Among them, 60% were women, 39% were men, and 1% were nonbinary or nonconforming. Also, 1% were baby boomers, 37% were Gen X, 59% were millennials, and 3% were Gen Z. For work location analysis, 36% of parents worked in-person, 24% were hybrid workers, 25% worked remotely, and 15% did not work.

About Prodigy Education

Prodigy Education is a global leader in game-based learning. Our mission is to help every student in the world love learning, motivating millions worldwide via fun, secure, and accessible curriculum-aligned gameplay experiences. At Prodigy Education, we believe maximizing student motivation helps develop a lifetime love of learning. Prodigy's approach to fun, game-based learning means kids no longer have to choose between homework and playtime. Visit www.prodigygame.com to learn more.

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