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Barcroft Elementary Heads Back to School

This school is the only public school in Arlington County that follows a modified school year calendar.

 
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Students at Barcroft Elementary start school earlier than other students in the public school system. Arlington Public Schools
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Most Arlington Public Schools students will start back on Sept. 4, but students at Barcroft Elementary started school Wednesday.
Pat Murphy, Arlington Public Schools superintendent, greets students curbside as they arrive at Barcroft Elementary on Wednesday morning.
Some educators believe the modified school year calendar helps students retain more information from the the previous school year because the summer break is shorter.
The modified school year calendar means students have a shorter summer vacation, but two longer breaks are built into the fall and spring months.
Students at Barcroft Elementary start school earlier than other students in the public school system.
Barcroft Elementary School Principal Miriam Hughey-Guy welcomes students on the first day.

It may feel like summer outside, but it's back to school time for Barcroft Elementary.

The elementary school, located on South Wakefield Street, follows a modified school year calendar, which means students have a shorter summer break, a two-week break in October and and a three-week break spanning the end of March and the beginning of April.

Barcroft Elementary is the only public school in Arlington to follow the modified schedule.

Linda Erdos, assistant superintendent for school and community relations, said the elementary school has been using this modified calendar for at least seven years.

According to a school profile on the Arlington Public Schools website, "This calendar balances the school year and provides continuous learning opportunities for all. Summer learning losses are reduced due to the shorter summer break. Each quarter is followed by either a two-week Intersession or break during the school year to provide continuous learning cycles."

The rest of Arlington County students head back to school on Sept. 4.

Related Topics: Arlington County Schools, Back To School, Barcroft Elementary School, First Day Of School, Schools, and modified school year calendar

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