Some schools are just getting back into the swing of things after Labor Day.

Others have been back since the beginning of August.

And if you work in a school office, you probably have an opinion about it.

Because when you’re already answering emails, chasing missing forms, fixing schedules, processing withdrawals, and wondering why the copier is making that noise—and then you see another school posting pictures of their first day in September…

You might experience a little late-start envy.

But before you decide that everyone else has it better, let’s take a look at both sides.

The Early Start

Some schools are back in early August.

That can feel brutal when summer vacation seems like it just started. But there are some advantages.

You get more breathing room during the school year.

Starting earlier can mean more days between the first day of school and major holidays. There may be more instructional time before Thanksgiving, winter break, or spring break.

It can also mean:

• An earlier end to the school year
• Fewer makeup days if there are weather cancellations
• Less instructional time squeezed into May and June
• A chance to get those first few hectic weeks behind you sooner

And let’s be honest—there is something satisfying about reaching October and thinking, “We’ve already been doing this for two months!”

And for those of us who have worked in high schools, there may be one more reason to appreciate a later start…

Isn’t it refreshing to have the girls a little more covered up for a little longer? 😂

August heat + high school dress codes = the front office getting plenty of opportunities to have those conversations.

By September, cooler weather can make everyone’s life just a little easier—including the person who has to explain why a particular outfit isn’t quite school-appropriate.

Of course, the downside of an early start?

August.

It can be HOT. REALLY hot.

Summer feels shorter, families may not be ready, and school staff are trying to transition from summer mode to full-speed-ahead mode while everyone is still thinking about the beach.

August.

It can be HOT. REALLY hot.

Summer feels shorter, families may not be ready, and school staff are trying to transition from summer mode to full-speed-ahead mode while everyone is still thinking about the beach.

The Late Start

Then there are the schools that don’t return until after Labor Day.

Now THAT can look pretty good when you’re watching everyone else start school in the middle of August.

A later start can mean:

More summer.

Families get additional time for vacations. Students have more time to relax. Staff have more time to prepare. And that extra couple of weeks can feel like a gift.

There can also be some practical benefits.

A September start may mean cooler weather during those first few weeks, fewer summer conflicts, and a little more time to get classrooms and offices ready before students arrive.

But there is a tradeoff.

Those extra weeks at the beginning have to come from somewhere.

The school year still has to meet its required instructional days.

So while one school is enjoying a leisurely August, another school may already be counting down to the end of June.

And Then There’s Thanksgiving…

This is where school calendars can get REALLY interesting.

Every school has its own version of Thanksgiving Break.

Some schools are off Thursday and Friday.

Some have a half day on Wednesday, followed by Thursday and Friday off.

And some schools?

THE ENTIRE WEEK.

If you work at a school that only gets Thursday and Friday off and discover that another district is closed Monday through Friday, you may suddenly question every life decision that brought you there.

But again—there’s a tradeoff.

That entire week off has to be accounted for somewhere else in the calendar.

Maybe that school started earlier.

Maybe their summer starts later.

Maybe they have fewer days off somewhere else.

Maybe their calendar simply looks completely different from yours.

So Which Is Better?

That’s the tricky part.

There isn’t necessarily a “better” calendar.

There are just different calendars with different priorities.

An early-start school may finish earlier.

A late-start school may have a longer summer.

One school may have a full week at Thanksgiving.

Another may have a longer winter break.

One district may have professional development days sprinkled throughout the year.

Another may stack them at the beginning or end of the year.

And no matter how you arrange it…

There are still 180 school days to get through.

The calendar can move the pieces around, but it can’t magically make those days disappear.

The Grass Isn’t Always Greener

This is probably a good reminder for more than just school calendars.

It’s easy to look at someone else’s schedule and think they have it better.

“They don’t go back until September!”

“They get the whole week of Thanksgiving off!”

“Their last day is in May!”

But you don’t always see the other side.

Maybe they started in early August.

Maybe they go until the end of June.

Maybe their winter break is shorter.

Maybe they have fewer professional development days.

Maybe their calendar has fewer long weekends.

We tend to compare their best days to our worst days.

And that’s not exactly a fair comparison.

So… Do You Have Late-Start Envy?

If your school is already several weeks into the school year and you’re seeing posts from schools that are just getting started…

It’s okay.

You can be jealous.

But before you decide their calendar is SO much better than yours, take a closer look.

Maybe their Thanksgiving break isn’t as long.

Maybe they’re still going to be in school when you’re already packing up for summer.

Maybe the calendar that looks amazing in September won’t look quite as amazing in June.

The grass isn’t always greener. Sometimes it just has a different school calendar.