Two of South

Fulton's schools got a head start on classes this year.

The county's

only two-year round schools, College Park Elementary School and Parklane

Elementary School in East Point, returned to classes last week. The schools

provide students the same 180-day school year as traditional schools,

but have a school calendar that is spread throughout the year to provide

more continuity in learning.

Students attend

nine weeks of school, followed by a three-week break and intersession,

which operates similar to summer school for enrichment and remedial learning.

The students then have a summer break of six weeks.

Research indicates

that year-round schooling improves students' knowledge and curriculum

retention by providing shorter, but more frequent breaks, in the school

year instead of one longer break during the summer months.

College Park

Elementary became the first year-round school in Georgia in 1991. Parklane

Elementary, the other year-round school in Fulton, was approved for year-round

status in December 2001. Parklane administrators studied the year-round

schooling concept over the last two years and then as a staff decided

to move forward with consulting the parents and community. The support

was overwhelming and parents also voted to adopt the year-round calendar.

This is the first year for year-round schooling for Parklane students.

Parklane parents

held a rally on the first day of school to welcome back students. The

Boys Chorale from nearby Paul D. West Middle School also performed.