It is hard to say the first day of school in the United States because when the first day of school is and what happens on the first day of school usually are different by districts（地区）.

The first day of school for many school districts in different states is on the day after the first Monday in September. In some other school districts, school begins in mid-to-late August. For example, the Denver, Colorado schools go back in mid-August and schools in Cleveland, Ohio start back usually one week before the first Monday in September. The Boston, Chicago, New York City and San Diego schools start back on the Tuesday or Wednesday after the first Monday in September.

Schools in Cleveland, Ohio used to start the school year on the day after the first Monday in September, but in the 1976-1977 and 1977-1978 academic years, the school year was affected by several bad snowstorms, extreme cold. In the 1978-1979 school year, the Ohio Department of Education moved the start of the year to late August, one week before the first Monday in September. This went into effect in the 1980-1981 school year.

In most school districts in Utah, the school year starts between August 25 and August 30, and goes until the last week of May or the first week in June next year.

In American high schools, the freshmen class usually goes back one or two days before the rest of the school body for an orientation（迎新）period. An orientation period helps the freshmen get familiar with their new school, its rules, and surroundings.

In some schools, the freshmen classes have their photographs taken for identification purposes. Some high schools have tried to make the first week of school fun for incoming freshmen.

Do Cyber Schools Make the Grade?

Students in Caldwell, Idaho, can attend class in their pajamas!

At Vallivue Virtual Academy, courses are taught online. Students work at home with parents, who serve as learning coaches. A certified teacher oversees the students' progress.

The cyber school was launched as a free option for students in kindergarten through grade 8 who have trouble succeeding in the district's traditional public school. Supporters of the program say that virtual learning can help students work at their own pace. If students struggle with subjects, they can take those courses online and spend more time on them. Valerie VanSelous, a teacher from Hopewell Township, N.J・，agrees. "Teachers, students, and parents need to accept new technology and not be afraid of it. Offering different teaching aids just might be the key to unlocking a student' s potential. "

Some also believe that attending virtual school can prepare students for college and for work after graduation. "We need to be responsible for working on our own,” says Angela Goscilo, a senior from Pound Ridge, N.Y. "We need to develop technology skills that will help us in whatever we do. Getting an early start is a good idea."

Not everyone gives cyber schools a passing grade， however. Some educators argue that online learning makes it hard for students to make friends. Payton Mcdonough, 13, a seventh grader from Glencoe, m., agrees. " I don't know how I could sit at a computer all day without actually interacting with my peers and teachers," he says.

In addition, virtual schools don’t have enough structure. Students who take online courses can set their own schedules, which will cause problems for students who have trouble staying motivated.

Many parents also feel that cyber schools put unrealistic time demands on them because they have to oversee their kids' daily work. Many of them have full-time jobs. How are they going to run their children's education, excel in their jobs, and take care of their other responsibilities at home?