Currently the DC Public School school year lasts 180 days, leading us to believe that the year is unnecessarily stretched out. There are many reasons that go against having a long school year. A long, uninterrupted stretch of time spent in school can be draining and demotivating for students, making it difficult for them to maintain their focus and engagement in their classes.

Another issue with the long school year is that it leaves students with less time to spend with their families. The summer break tends to be the only extended break where students can relax and spend time with their friends and family, but this period is relatively short when compared to the length of the school year. 

Most importantly, the long school year can have a negative impact on students’ mental and physical health. The constant demands of school can be stressful, and prolonged exposure to stress can lead to lack of commitment and burn out. The long school year also makes it difficult for students to engage in extracurricular activities or to pursue other interests outside of school, which can have a negative impact on their overall well-being.

In summary, the overextended school year has been criticized for its negative impact on students’ motivation, mental and physical health, and ability to spend time with their families. Therefore, we think the school year should be shortened, either by extending the summer breaks, or lengthening the duration of our winter breaks. Doing this will give us opportunities to travel, relax, and above all recover.