Mount Vernon High School should consider starting a four day school week, with Fridays off. It would benefit both students and the community as a whole. While the change would offer high school students huge mental and academic benefits, it would also keep elementary and middle school students on a five day schedule, ensuring that parents don’t face additional childcare challenges.

A four day week would provide high school students with rest and recovery from the long school days. There is a big pressure on kids in high school, with balancing schoolwork, extracurriculars, and family life after a long day at school. The extra day off would also give students time to relax, recharge, and focus on their mental health, which is increasingly important given the rising rates of stress and anxiety among teens. The additional time would help students avoid getting burnt out and give opportunities to focus on themselves, which can lead to better engagement and overall happier students.

A shorter school week could also make the quality of education better with less days in the week, teachers could focus on more productive, focused lessons that will help the students more with their learning. The longer weekends would give students time to think about what they’ve learned and catch up on schoolwork from the week. This strategy can lead to better learning and retention of material and increased productivity during the school week. In addition, some studies done by the National  Conference of State Legislatures have shown that student attendance improves under a four-day school week. With a longer weekend, students have more time to rest and engage in extracurricular activities, which can lead to better attendance during the week. This, in turn, can lead to improved academic performance. 

Another advantage of a four day school week is its financial impact. Fewer school days mean less energy used in school buildings, which saves the school money that could be used for other things. The district could also save money on utilities, and food services, which could be reinvested into improving academic programs. Financially for students, there are many students that have jobs or own a small service business that cannot do as many hours of work as they would like but with Fridays free they can get a whole day more of work in every week.

To not force the parents into unneeded childcare, keeping elementary and middle schools on a five day schedule would ensure that families can continue to rely on consistent childcare. This  would address concerns about parents needing to find care for younger children while still giving high school students the benefits of a shorter week.

In conclusion, a four day school week at Mount Vernon High School would bring a lot of benefits to students, parents, and the community. It’s a change that could improve mental health, and academic outcomes, all while being mindful of family needs.