DOWNEY – The 2015-16 school year will begin one week earlier than usual, the Downey Unified School District has announced. The new school year begins Aug. 26 and ends June 10.

“The Downey Unified School District has altered next year’s school calendar solely with student interest in mind,” DUSD said in a statement. “By concluding the school year one week earlier, students will have a greater advantage obtaining summer internships, job opportunities and early college enrollment compared to students in other districts who will still be finishing their final semester.”

The California High School Exit Exam, taken by all 10th grade students, and AP testing also contributed to the shift, DUSD officials said.

“Being that both exams are held on fixed dates state- and nation-wide, this shift will now provide an additional week of instruction and academic preparation for all DUSD students, anticipating that this change will directly correlate with greater levels of success,” the DUSD statement said.

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Published: Feb. 5, 2015 - Volume 13 - Issue 43