PeachyDoodle Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 Just curious what's common: How long is the elementary school day where you live? The public school district where I live is considering lengthening the school day for elementary students from 6.5 to 7 hours. Some parents are up in arms about this; they think the school day is long enough or too long already. Most of the counties around us already have a 7-hour school day for elementary, but that has increased over time. I think when I was an elementary student in this district, the school day was closer to 6 hours. By sheer coincidence, I read an article today in the Washington Post about a "no-excuses" school in which students as young as kindergarten spend NINE hours each day! :svengo: Can't imagine what would happen if they tried something like THAT here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seeking Squirrels Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 I *think* they are about 6.5 but not positive. My neighbor leaves at 8:30 to take them (5 minutes away) and I know pick up is 3:25. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcadia Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 School lets off at 1:15pm on Wednesday which is a minimum day. K-2nd has less than 6hrs per day while 3rd-5th has slightly more than 6hrs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomeAgain Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 The two public school systems are 7h30min and 8h, K-5th. The lovely private school is 4-5h through 2nd grade, 6.5h through the end of elementary. The public schools are why I advocate for a homework-less environment. Children don't need a 40h work week and a requirement of overtime on top of that. The general public would be up in arms if they were told they had to spend an extra 10 hours a week working from home on top of their office job. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J&JMom Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 (edited) 7 hour days in public school. One charter school in the area has an 8 hour day (!!) but they are tri-lingual with daily PE so they need the extra time. And a friend who's kids used to attend cited the 1-2 hours of nightly homework as the main reason. Can't imagine an 8-hour school day, 1 hour + travel time (adjust for differing start starts for differing grades) AND looking forward to hours of homework! Nope, took my kids off that wait list. Growing up elementary was only 6 hours with more recess. Edited January 12, 2016 by J&JMom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dmmetler Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 Officially 7 hours, but there are a lot of early release days. (not one set day every week, but some Mondays, some Fridays, and the occasional Wednesday), so it probably is more like 6-6.5 hours on average. Having said that, some schools have extended day programs for additional academics, especially in schools that have been turned over to charters due to low performance, and those do have more like 8+ hour days, plus often have additional instruction on Saturday. I've heard my former colleagues call them "Loan schools"-because NO ONE teaches in them except TFA and similar program teachers. It's just too many expected work hours for someone to do for more than a year or two, or to do if you have a spouse and children. It doesn't help any that the pay rate stinks (because such schools aren't subject to the negotiated contract between the district and the NEA), so unless you're getting your student loans paid off, it's not financially worth it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluegoat Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 I think it's about 6.5, plus bus time for many. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alice Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 All public school days (ES, MS and HS) are 6:45 minutes long here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raptor_dad Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 In Minneapolis, elementary schools are all 6.5hrs. Start times vary from 7:30 to 9:30 depending on school. A quick look suggests the suburbs are also 6.5hrs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shawthorne44 Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 ...By sheer coincidence, I read an article today in the Washington Post about a "no-excuses" school in which students as young as kindergarten spend NINE hours each day! :svengo: Can't imagine what would happen if they tried something like THAT here! Wow! One of DD's friends can't play anymore on weekdays because she started K. They get out at 3:30 pm, but don't get home until closer to 4:30 pm. She comes home and goes into her room Alone to decompress. Then comes out for dinner. Then back to her room to be alone and do homework. She's peopled out out by just a normal full day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsuga Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 9:05 - 3:30, with two short recesses and lunch, M,T, Th, F. 6.5 hours minus 30 minute lunch, 20 minute recess. They used to have two 15s and a 20 but I think they wanted to give the kids more time to eat and play in the middle. Wednesdays are 9:05 - 1:10, lunch and one recess, no snack in the classroom either. Lots of children end up paying for full-day "school" while their parents work, though. After school is 1 - 3 hours outside, remainder of the time split into homework /tutoring / game time, and indoor sports time, and a snack, until parent pick-up. Middle school is 7:40 - 2:30 but there is free tutoring for an hour after school (basically, you choose the class you need help in and go sit there) and HS is 7:30 - 2:30, also with tutorial, but they are going to start later next year. Too bad about hours of light for sports and outdoors, but honestly, I think for our kids it will be a huge improvement. MS and HS also have early dismissal Wednesdays. But no weeks off for parent-teacher conferences: it's all outside the regular work day, thank god. In Seattle they take a week off, AND you have to come in during your own work day. I find this beyond irritating. I want my time off to be FUN time off! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southern Ivy Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 Doors open at 7:30 and students go to the gym. Students start coming to the classroom at 7:45, but it technically starts at 8:00. So, students are with us officially from 8:00-2:50. So, almost 7 hours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UCF612 Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 I just looked it up and the public school we are zoned for has first bell at 8:05, they release at 3:15 (early release at 2:15 on Wed). The school I taught in last year (private school) was 8-2:45. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southern Ivy Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 The two public school systems are 7h30min and 8h, K-5th. The lovely private school is 4-5h through 2nd grade, 6.5h through the end of elementary. The public schools are why I advocate for a homework-less environment. Children don't need a 40h work week and a requirement of overtime on top of that. The general public would be up in arms if they were told they had to spend an extra 10 hours a week working from home on top of their office job. I agree. I want my students to be kids, so I rarely send home any kind of work. I ask that they read 20 minutes a night and tonight they will take home a division math practice with only 5 problems on it. But, even those math papers are rare. I'd rather they play and be kids. Besides, if they can do it in my classroom, why do I need to make them doing it again at home? This is just one of the reasons why I want to homeschool. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UCF612 Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 (edited) Regarding homework, I taught K last year. The only homework they had started half way through the year and it was just reading. No set amount of time or page length. Just practice reading for however long you wanted/needed. My parent review at the end of the year came back saying parents wish I'd assigned more homework. I was shocked! I thought people would be happy not to have to deal with homework for their Ker. I would occasionally send home game activities for skills practice but most kids said they never did them. Edited January 12, 2016 by UCF612 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomeAgain Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 Regarding homework, I taught K last year. The only homework they had started half way through the year and it was just reading. No set amount of time or page length. Just practice reading for however long you wanted/needed. My parent review at the end of the year came back saying parents wish I'd assigned more homework. I was shocked! I thought people would be happy not to have to deal with homework for their Ker. I would occasionally send home game activities for skills practice but most kids said they never did them. There is a mom who just moved here who has pulled her 3yo out of two preschools already because they didn't assign homework even though they said they were "curriculum based". All they do is play all day! To many parents, homework=serious academic environment. Serious academic environment = the best that a kid can get. There is no inbetween or different method of teaching/learning. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwik Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 Years 1 to 6 (k to 5). Kids can arrive from 8.15 and play outside but school starts at 9. Finish is at 3. Breaks are 10.30 to 10.50 and 12.30 to 1.30. Kids eat and play outside unless it is raining. Years 7/8 8.45 to 2.45. I think lunch breaks etc are the same but they eat in their homeroom. High school, years 9 to 13 (8th to 12th). 8.45 to 3.15. As far as i know the breaks are the same and everyone eats outside but i don't have kids that age. So 6 hours including breaks for primary/intermediate and 6.5 for secondary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomeAgain Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 (edited) Years 1 to 6 (k to 5). Kids can arrive from 8.15 and play outside but school starts at 9. Finish is at 3. Breaks are 10.30 to 10.50 and 12.30 to 1.30. Kids eat and play outside unless it is raining. Years 7/8 8.45 to 2.45. I think lunch breaks etc are the same but they eat in their homeroom. High school, years 9 to 13 (8th to 12th). 8.45 to 3.15. As far as i know the breaks are the same and everyone eats outside but i don't have kids that age. So 6 hours including breaks for primary/intermediate and 6.5 for secondary. In contrast, the K-5 here start at 7:30 and go to 3:00. Break is 9:15-9:30 and lunch from 11:00-11:30. Kids come to school and eat a mandatory breakfast at their desks, but lunch in the cafeteria. High school here goes from 8:00-4:00, with a 40 minute lunch at 12:00. ETA: Playing outside before school is discouraged because there is no aide on duty at that hour. Students go directly to their classrooms. Edited January 12, 2016 by HomeAgain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcadia Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 My parent review at the end of the year came back saying parents wish I'd assigned more homework. I was shocked! I thought people would be happy not to have to deal with homework for their Ker. My local public school did not send any classwork back for K. Parents end up estimating what is being taught by homework. Homework is optional and my oldest's K teacher gave for weekly homework - handwriting practice using the spelling words - two page of Math Minutes - book report - reading log (for parent to fill and sign off) The homework comes home on Monday afternoon and is returned on Monday morning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curlymom Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 Wow, I had no idea that there was such a range in times! Based on the other comments, our local elementary is on the long side. When my kids were there (we pulled them in 3rd and 1st grade) the day started at 8 and ended at 3:10. The day was extended in the current school year to a dismissal time of 3:25. So the kids are at school for almost 7.5 hours, not counting drop off and pick up times. I think middle school and high school have similar hours, but different start and dismissal times. What made the original time even harder for us was that my 3rd grader had a couple of hours of homework every night between reading logs and math/science homework worksheets and spelling word practice. It made for really long days. Kinder was a full day, too, which was fine for my daughter but really hard on my son. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackie Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 7.5 hours. We live across from an elementary school and watch the children get off the busses at 8:15 am to start at 8:30. They're loading up not at 3:50. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Syllieann Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 (edited) Ours are 6 hrs 45 minutes, which includes a 30 minute lunch/recess. There are no other recess periods. Edited January 12, 2016 by Syllieann Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
73349 Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 Eight hours includes the bus ride. It would be a little shorter if they assigned our neighborhood to the closest school. The private school where I taught was seven, plus commute times (plus aftercare for those who signed up). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abba12 Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 I put under 6 because we stagger for busses here, one school is 9-2:50, another is 9:10-3:00, a third 8:50-2:45 and variations thereafter This is in australia, school running 9-3 or close to it is pretty standard everywhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purpleowl Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 Looks like all the public schools here are 6 hours 20 minutes from start to stop each day, with staggered start and end times (high school starts and ends earliest, then elementary, then middle). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hellen Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 6 hours 45 minutes here. School starts at 7:40 am. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grover Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 9 am to 3pm with about 1.5 hours of lunch/break/play/recess in there - usually 20 - 30 min at at 1030 and 1 hour 1230 - 130 (eat lunch then go and play). Some schools have a different break arrangement, but all about the same time. So 4.5 hours of class time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MinivanMom Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 7 hours Our local elementary school runs from 8:45-3:45. They also have a 30 min lunch and a 30 min recess. It's a long day for kids who ride the bus; some don't get home until 4:30 or later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happypamama Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 The bus here picks up the elementary students at 7:50 and brings them home at 3:50. I think the day starts around 8:30 because I see my neighbors who drive their kids leave at about 8:25, and we're only a couple of miles from the school, and there's no traffic. The high school bus drops kids off at about 3:15, and assuming they share buses with the elementary school, I guess that means the elementary gets out around 3:30, so that would be 7 hours. Not sure about Kindergarten. It used to be that it was half day, but after the first month, they'd identify any students who needed extra help, and those students would stay for the full day. They might be full day now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rachel Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 The school day here is right at 7 hours in elementary school. My sister lives in a rural school district across the country. Her kids have a pretty long day but they only go to school 4 days per week. I'm not sure how long the actual school day is because they ride the bus but they are gone from the house from 7:30-4. Their bus ride is about 15 minutes after school but I'm not sure about before school. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Butter Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 7 hours K-5 (7:40-2:40) 7 hours 5 minutes 6-8 (8:20-3:25) 7 hours 20 minutes 9-12 (8:45-4:05) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IsabelC Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 (edited) When I was a kid, school went from 9am to 3pm with half an hour for morning recess and an hour for lunch, so 4.5 hours of actual class time. Our local public school is maybe 15 or 20 minutes longer, same times but slightly shorter breaks. I know some private schools have a little more time again, but I haven't ever heard of a primary school (that's up to grade 6) going longer than 6.5 hours. I would suspect that we're behind the times (we usually are down here in Tasmania). I would also suspect that increasing hours have little to do with educational outcomes and lots to do with convenience for working parents who will not have to pay for after school childcare if school can be gradually stretched out to fill the entire working day. Edited January 13, 2016 by IsabelC 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmandaVT Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 Long day here. This was one of our original reasons for homeschooling. 8:15-4pm Bus picks up around 7:45am and drops off shortly before 5pm (usually right around 4:55). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
athomeontheprairie Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 7 here in school. Those on the longest bus rides have 10.5 hours Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
athomeontheprairie Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 7 here in school. Those on the longest bus rides have 10.5 hours Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reign Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 Local school goes 8:35-3:40 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joker Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 Elementary schools here are 9-3:45 with lunch and recess. They also get out 45 minutes early every Wednesday. The middle and high schools go 7:30-2:45 with lunch and a 45 minute early release every Wednesday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in Australia Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 6 1/2 hours including recess/ lunch 9 am start 3.30 pm finish Preschool however ( what we call kindergarten , for children age 4) is 7 1/2 hours. they start at 8.30am and finish at 4 pm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 6 hours and 15 minutes. They have cut back significantly. A few years ago they were in for 7.5 hours. They claimed this was necessary and the best thing for the kids. Then when the economy was rough they kept cutting back more and more. They never said it was for that reason, but that it was what was necessary and best for the kids. I believe it was a money issue. I think 7.5 hours is too much though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 8am to 3pm. Which is completely nuts. Back home, 1st graders are done by 11am. 4th graders are home by noon. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeaCookiesBears Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 (edited) One school 5 blocks away 7:45 to 2:25 which is a little over 61/2 hours The other school a few blocks further 9am to 3:40 that's 6 hours 40 mins. Edited January 13, 2016 by TeaCookiesBears Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
City Mouse Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 (edited) I didn't vote, because I don't want to skew the results. Kids here go 8:00-4:00, but the longer day is because school is only 4 days per week. That includes lunch, PE, and at least 2 recess times for elementary. I know the MS kids have 1 30 minute recess, but I don't remember if they get 2 recesses. Our school district went to 4-day weeks back in the oil crunch of the 1970's and never went back. Every few years there is talk of going to 5 day week, but most people prefer the 4-day week. Edited January 13, 2016 by City Mouse Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tm919 Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 8:50 to 3:10 so 6 hr 20 min, but not all of that is considered instructional time. For K, about 2 hrs is in recess, lunch, unstructured activity time, and rest time. That time goes down each year (I think by the end they've only got 1 hr for recess and lunch). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kentuckymom Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 My son's school starts at 7:45 and gets out at 2:35, so just under 7 hours. Instruction does not begin until 8am and there are 25 minutes for lunch and 20 for recess, so that makes for about 6 hours of academic instruction. I think that's too much. My son is in 5th grade this year, and they don't have their recess until the end of the day, so he has about 6 hours of school with no break except for lunch. It's been really hard for him. I'm seriously considering sending my daughter (who will be in K next year) to a private school next year which, among other advantages, has four recesses a day, including lunch outside whenever weather permits. I wish I could get that in a public school. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MinivanMom Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 8am to 3pm. Which is completely nuts. Back home, 1st graders are done by 11am. 4th graders are home by noon. When I student taught (back in the 90's), the school had a tiered school day (along w/generous recess and PE). In that school district: Kindergarten was 2.5 hours 1st grade was 5 hours 2nd-5th was 6 hours It's the only time I've ever seen a public school system here do anything like that, but it was wonderful. I wish the idea would spread. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FairProspects Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 The local elementary school is 8:30-3:00pm, so 6.5 hours. Ds's private school is 8:15-3:00pm, so 15min longer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom22ns Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 The day is 7 hours, 8:30-3:30. Students can arrive at 8:00 and go sit in the gym until 8:30. Many do because parents need to get to work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calihil Posted January 15, 2016 Share Posted January 15, 2016 The school my kids would be zoned for here in Cypress, TX goes from about 8:50 to 4:00, so about 7 hours, I guess. But the neighbor boy who goes gets on the bus at 8:30am and doesnt get off in the afternoon until 4:30pm. That just seems so LONG to me! I would miss my daughter too much. :crying: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneStepAtATime Posted January 15, 2016 Share Posted January 15, 2016 7:45am - 3:30pm (except kindy, which I THINK is less in some of the schools, but not all) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loesje22000 Posted January 15, 2016 Share Posted January 15, 2016 For 2,5 yo and older school is from 8.20 am - 16.05 pm four days a week, a fifth day is until 12.00 From 1 st grade, children got homework everyday, and semester exams in december and June. I don't think they learn 'more' or 'in depth'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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