Columbia Early College High School will begin its 2018-19 schedule on August 15 and close on May 24, 2019, but Columbia Middle School and Tyrrell Elementary School will open August 27 and close June 6, 2019.

“The school system calendar committee has reviewed options to allow the high school to operate on a schedule that closely mirrors Beaufort County Community College with whom we have our articulation agreement for college coursework,” Dr. Will Hoffman, superintendent, explained.

Holiday schedules for all schools are the same, he added.

By following slightly differing calendars, early college high school students will be able to complete their college coursework with minimal non-academic time, Dr. Hoffman said.

The students will also be able to complete all testing before winter break. This allows for new coursework to begin for all students with the return to school in January instead of students completing first semester high school work and beginning new semester college work simultaneously.

The holiday schedule includes Sept. 3, Labor Day; Nov. 12, Veterans Day; Nov 21-23, Thanksgiving; Dec. 24 through Jan. 4, Christmas-New Year’s; Feb. 15, staff renewal (no students); March 15, teacher workday (no students); April 19-26, Spring break; and May 27, Memorial Day.

“If you have already made plans for camps or vacation that conflict with the high school early start date next August, please contact Dr. Michael Yancey, high school principal, or Bill Ziegler, high school assistant principal and early college director, to discuss options for your family,” Dr. Hoffman advised parents.