Year-Round-School Pilot Project at Metcalfe and Rawlings Elementary Schools

  • Alachua County Public Schools is one of three Florida school districts and one laboratory school selected for the state’s Year-Round School Pilot Program. Under that program, a year-round school year calendar will be put in place at both Metcalfe Elementary and Rawlings Elementary beginning in July of 2024 and running through the 2028-29 school year.

    The Year-Round School Pilot Program was established under a state law passed during the 2023 legislative session. Districts had to apply to participate and will be required to provide data about the results of year-round schooling to the Florida Department of Education, which will then make recommendations to the governor and the Florida Legislature about possible expansion.

    In addition to Alachua County Public Schools, Marion County, Brevard County and the PK Yonge Developmental Research School in Gainesville will also be participating.

    In its application, the district outlined its goals for the program, including the improvement of student academic performance, behavior and attendance. Among the benefits highlighted are a reduction of the learning loss that often happens over the long summer vacation, more opportunities for ongoing academic support and targeted intervention, continuity in programs and structure and stronger bonds between students and staff.

    Now that it has the state’s approval, the district is working on the details, including a calendar for both schools. Students would still attend school for 180 days each school year, but under the program the school year would begin in July, there would be longer breaks during the school year and the summer break would be much shorter. Every effort will be made to align the new calendars with existing breaks, such as Thanksgiving. The district is also working on plans to adjust transportation, school meals, after-school programs and other schedules.

    The district will be scheduling family meetings at both schools to share more detailed information and answer questions.

2024-25 Year-Round School Calendars

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2024-25 Calendario para Año Escolar de Once Meses

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Rawlings Elementary School
  • Metcalfe

  • Rawlings

Metcalfe Elementary School