Peach County schools will begin next academic year Aug. 12, despite much community support for a September start date, the Peach County Board of Education has decided.

School will begin Aug. 12 and is scheduled to end May 23, 2014. Board members unanimously voted at their Tuesday meeting to begin school in August, mainly so schools will have time to offer end-of-course tests before winter break, board Chairman Jamie Johnson said.

Last month, school officials asked students, teachers, parents and community members for feedback on whether school should start in August or September. Officials drafted a survey, and 57 percent wanted school to begin in September.

Still, board members felt an August start date would benefit students, Johnson said.

Many students tend to perform better on end-of-course tests when the exams are given immediately after classes end, instead of after winter break.

Generally, students can more easily remember the information they have learned, he said.

Furthermore, December end-of-course tests will allow eligible seniors to graduate early. Otherwise, they would have to wait until the next semester to graduate, after their exams were completed and graded, Johnson said.

“We wanted to make sure we give our students every opportunity that we can,” he said.

To contact writer Jenna Mink, call 256-9751.