The Academy’s calendar is designed to reflect our mission: to prepare students with the knowledge, skills, and character for college, career, and citizenship.

Each school day includes about six hours of instruction with no early release or late start days. This consistency supports strong learning, dependable family routines, and steady progress. Because our days are slightly longer, we meet Idaho’s instructional requirements with room to spare—allowing well-timed breaks that keep students and teachers focused and refreshed.

1. Why does The Academy’s calendar look different from District 25 and other local schools?

As a public charter school, The Academy has the flexibility to design a calendar that best serves its students and staff. Our schedule emphasizes consistent learning blocks, meaningful breaks, and professional time for teachers to plan and collaborate. The design reflects our mission to prepare students with the knowledge, skills, and character for college, career, and citizenship—not to mirror district calendars or prioritize convenience.

2. How does the calendar support better teaching and learning?

The Academy’s calendar follows a rhythm of 6–8 weeks of focused instruction followed by short, restorative breaks. This pacing prevents burnout, strengthens attention, and allows teachers to assess progress and adjust instruction. It is built around sustained effort and renewal—the same habits of discipline and balance we want students to develop.

3. Why does The Academy start school in mid-August?

Starting in mid-August allows the first trimester to finish before Thanksgiving, keeping grading periods balanced and avoiding interruptions early in the year. It also ensures students complete their most important early-term assessments before the holiday season, when attendance patterns and focus often change.

4. Why does The Academy have a longer Winter Break than most schools?

A three-week Winter Break gives families flexibility for travel and allows staff time to plan and prepare for the second half of the school year. It also ensures students return rested and ready for the academic demands of spring. The additional week is possible because our daily schedule provides more total instructional hours than Idaho law requires.

5. What is the Spring Reset, and why can’t we just end the school year a week earlier?

The Spring Reset is a whole week off in late April designed to sustain energy and patience through the final stretch of the year. Most schools experience fatigue, increased misbehavior, and declining focus between spring break and the last day of school. The Reset gives everyone a chance to rest and return ready for a strong finish. Ending the year earlier might feel convenient, but our goal is to finish well, not just finish.

6. How many school days are required by Idaho law, and how does The Academy meet those requirements?

Idaho law sets minimum instructional hour requirements, not a fixed number of instructional days. This gives schools flexibility to design calendars that fit their students and communities. A longer school day means fewer total days are needed; a shorter day requires more.

At The Academy, students receive about six hours of instruction each day, and—unlike many schools—we have no early release or late start days during the week. Over the course of the year, those extra minutes quickly add up to well above the state minimum, allowing our calendar to balance academic quality with family time.

Because of this surplus, the Academy is able to provide timely, meaningful breaks throughout the year:

• A full week for Fall Break

• A full week for Thanksgiving

• A third week of Winter Break

• A second week of Spring Break

• A Spring Reset week

• And extra flexibility for snow days or schedule adjustments

Frequent, well-timed breaks give families room to plan vacations and appointments while allowing students and teachers to return refreshed and ready to work hard—without losing instructional time or reducing academic rigor. This is especially valuable in spring, when the Spring Reset helps prevent fatigue and supports strong performance through the final weeks of the year.

7. What do teachers do on professional development and planning days?

Professional development days are not “days off.” Teachers use this time to refine instruction, review student data, and align curriculum. Idaho allows a portion of this time to count toward instructional hours because it directly supports student achievement. These days help teachers sustain the same level of excellence we expect from students.

8. Why are there no early release or late start days?

Consistency is part of The Academy’s design. A steady daily schedule helps families plan and supports structure and predictability, especially for younger students who thrive on routine. Early releases and late starts disrupt the learning flow and confuse parents. By keeping each school day full and consistent, we strengthen learning habits and make better use of every instructional hour.

9. How does The Academy handle snow days or emergency closures?

Because we schedule more instructional hours than required by law, The Academy maintains a safety cushion that covers several emergency-closure days each year without adding make-up days. In the rare event of extended closures, minor adjustments may be made at the end of the school year.

10. How are future calendars decided?

Each year, the Board of Directors reviews instructional hours, community input, and scheduling needs before approving the following year’s calendar in December. While input from parents and staff is valued, calendar design is not a vote—it is a mission-based decision intended to uphold academic excellence, family balance, and The Academy’s educational philosophy.