CHATTOOGA COUNTY, Ga. — Summer break is over for Chattooga County students on Friday.
Chattooga County Schools is the first north Georgia school district to head back to school this year.
Channel 2’s Steve Gehlbach reported live as families arrived for drop-off on Channel 2 Action News This Morning.
The small, rural district with about 2,500 students not only starts early, but it operates on a four-day week.
The district started the 4-day schedule in 2010 and switched back to a 5-day schedule for a couple of years. But the district eventually returned to a 4-day schedule where students have Mondays off and attend classes Tuesday through Friday.
“Makes it feel better, makes weeks go by faster,” one student said.
While some may find it challenging with daycare or leaving kids home alone during the day, some parents we talked to also like permanent three-day weekends.
“It’s a longer weekend, less stress for the parents, more time to get homework done and less school clothes, that sort of thing,” Rhonda Lee said.
The move to four days helped save hundreds of thousands of dollars a year in operating costs. It also helps attract and retain teachers.
Chattooga High School coach has seen other benefits.
“I think it’s a plus for the students, less disciplinary problems, better grades, attendance is better,” Richie McWhorter said.
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