Suffolk Public Schools approves pre-Labor Day start for 2024-2025 school year

Jane Alvarez-Wertz
·2 min read

The video above is about hundreds of school systems across the country that have gone to a 4-day school week.

SUFFOLK, Va. (WAVY) – Students at Suffolk Public Schools will return to the classroom before Labor Day for the 2024-2025 school year.

This makes Suffolk one of the final Hampton Roads school districts to approve a pre-Labor Day start. Last year, the first day of school was Sept. 5.

The 2019 General Assembly passed legislation amending provisions in the Code of Virginia regarding school calendars. It states, “All school divisions in Virginia may set the school calendar such that the first day students are required to attend is up to 14 days before Labor Day. Those divisions beginning school prior to Labor Day must close each school in the school division from the Friday immediately preceding Labor Day through Labor Day.”

The Suffolk School Board voted 5-2 to approve the new school calendar. The upcoming school year will begin for students on Monday, August 26, 2024, with the last day of the school year falling on June 6, 2025.

The district has posted a copy of the approved calendar, at this link. At publication, it was not yet available on the SPS website.

The approved 2024-2025 calendar includes:

  • 1 Full; 4 Half: Clerical/Planning Days

  • 2 Full; 1 Half: Professional Learning Days

  • 7: Early Release Days

  • Division Closed: Friday, Aug. 30 and Monday, Sept. 2

  • 2 End of 1st Semester Transition Days (no students)

  • 3: Parent Teacher Conferences (½ days)

  • Fall Break: November 27-29, 2024

  • Winter Break: December 23, 2024-January 3, 2025

  • Spring Break: April 14-18, 2025

  • Last day of school for students and staff: June 6, 2025

“We understand that such a change may cause families to readjust their schedules for the start of the upcoming fall semester,” the school system said in a message confirming the approved calendar. For questions, you can contact the School Administrative Offices at 757-925-6750.

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