Photo Illustration

As students across the Mid-Ohio Valley settle into a new school year, administrators say the timing of the first day — whether in August or after Labor Day — plays a big role in shaping the back-to-school experience.

At Veritas Classical Academy, Head of School Joe Wilson said beginning after Labor Day has been well received by families and staff.

“Parents love it. Kids love it. Honestly, teachers and staff love it,” Wilson said. “It’s nice to have a bit of a longer and a later summer to come back once the weather’s already starting to get a little cooler. You know, some Septembers it doesn’t get cooler, but this one did, and it just feels good to be back a little bit later — to feel like it’s actually the fall and we’re getting back into school.”

Wilson said enrollment at Veritas is up about 20% this year, which has brought added energy to the first days back.

“I’ve been there all summer working, and on Thursday night we had our orientation,” he said. “It just was so great to actually see the kids, see the students, and start getting enthusiastic about the school year again.”

Photo Illustration

He said he hopes the increase in students will strengthen the school’s community.

“I’m really excited to see how the new students kind of integrate into our population,” Wilson said. “At the beginning of the year, it’s just getting back into the swing of things, making sure everyone knows what’s going on and knows where to be.”

Looking ahead, Wilson said Veritas has several events planned to keep students engaged.

“We’ve got some interesting things coming up, a couple of orchestra concerts that we’re getting ready for,” he said. “We’re thinking about having a Fall Festival sometime in November, just other events … it’s a really exciting time.”

Meanwhile, at Fort Frye Local Schools, Superintendent Stephanie Starcher said the district has traditionally started classes in late August — a decision that is shaped each year by both academic requirements and community feedback.

“We have a calendar committee that every year reviews the school calendar and discusses start dates and how the school year will be laid out,” Starcher said. “That is recommended to the board, the board reviews it at a meeting — typically that’s in January — and then at least 30 days later they allow for public input. After that, they’ll approve it.”

One of the main reasons Fort Frye begins earlier is to match the schedule of College Credit Plus courses, which allow high school students to earn college credit.

“A lot of our high school students take College Credit Plus courses, and those tend to start in mid-August,” Starcher said. “We want to align with that to be able to give that credit, and also for students to be able to start on time, on track.”

State accountability testing in the spring is another factor, she said.

“The state accountability testing is finished by very early May, end of April at the latest,” Starcher said. “We try to get a significant portion of the school year completed before that, since that is a measure of what students are supposed to know and be able to do by the grade level in the subject areas tested.”

“As much as anything, it’s about getting back into the swing of things,” Wilson said. “It’s great to see everyone back and to start the year with that sense of energy.”