Being more than halfway through the school year, and with policy change just around the corner, it is time to discuss school start dates. While previously Bernards High School had traditionally started early September, as of the 2026-2027 school year, the start date has been pushed forward to August 31, 2026, with the last day of school being June 11, 2027. While the start date is not mandated by the state, many schools are starting the shift towards an August school start time. The start date will gradually be pushed back to mid-August, falling in line with the majority of high schools and colleges across the country.
There are a multitude of advantages to an August start date. For one, starting school at an earlier date gives teachers more time to get through AP content without rushing through important exam material. Both AP exam and NJSLA preparations are being limited by the September start date. Why not increase the ability to prepare for these standardized tests and increase the already high scores many students receive?
Anya Parekh ‘27 from Lamar High School in Houston, Texas, said, “We start school [around] August 12, which is earlier than most schools in the United States. [Our school] starting school earlier can have many positive effects. First, it gives students more time before AP and IB exams to cover content and review, which can help with prep for challenging courses. It also lets teachers pace lessons at an easier and more relaxed pace, which helps with not rushing through content. In general, beginning the school year mid-August can help you succeed stronger academically and better prepare you for AP/ IB exams and college planning.”
Additionally, if the start date is pushed back, the end of school more closely coincides with the completion of AP exams; and more time can be put towards the preparation for exams at the beginning of the year.
Furthermore, August school start dates align more closely with college start dates.
“It is harder to plan things with my older brother in college, so pushing the start date to August aligns better with college schedules and helps with familial planning,” said Westin Lukes ‘26.
Moreover, the start date still benefits non-AP students as it aligns with and prepares students for the college start and end schedule. Most colleges begin in August, as do most high schools across the country; so, in pushing Bernard’s High School start date to August, it aligns with most other high school and college calendars.
“A lot of our students choose to go to school in these other states, and so they’re going to school in Louisiana or North Carolina or Virginia, California. And these colleges will set up their orientations in mid June. Mid June’s our graduation,” said Dr. Neigel Bernard’s principal, “they’re missing graduation practice, they’re missing yearbook signing, they’re missing an award ceremony, and it’s totally avoidable. Why do we need to be on a completely separate schedule than the rest of the country and APs, [which are] the same two weeks in every state in the United States of America.”
An August start date makes senior schedules much simpler to manage, ensuring that they are not missing important milestones due to scheduling conflicts.
As well as this, an August school start gives incoming seniors who are applying for college early more time to consult their guidance counselors. Many seniors apply to their colleges early, so having access to the guidance counselors during this time would be a big benefit to those who do not have private college advisors.
“I would say probably around 70% of seniors are submitting an application early [for] one of the early deadlines,” said Dr. Neigel, “Wouldn’t it be beneficial to have earlier access to our guidance counselors, to our guidance staff, instead of waiting till September and then trying to rush to meet deadlines in October or of a rolling deadline?”
Further, the August school start date positively impacts fall sports. It does not make sense that the first football game occurs before school starts, or that many fall sports pre-seasons occur at least three weeks prior to the first day of school. If over 300 students already come to school in August for fall sports according to Dr. Neigel, and there are many academic advantages to an August school start, it does not make sense to keep the start date in September.
While some students favor the September start date to get the most out of summer weather, an August start is far more valuable to academics. And while some may argue that AC is an issue, BHS is fully air-conditioned aside from three rooms in the building. School will also end earlier in the year, so it will not impact the amount of time spent in school as opposed to on break.
There are no overshadowing drawbacks for an August start date, and in fact, overwhelming positives to this change.
