WEST PLAINS, Mo. — The West Plains School District Board of Education has approved the 2020-21 school calendar, with new start dates and times.
District officials say the state of Missouri now mandates all districts must start on or after August 24, which is the date school will start in the R-7 district in 2020. The school year will also end one week later than in recent years.
Districts are required to offer at least 1,044 hours of instruction annually, according to state law. Annual days and hours of instruction differ from district to district due to the incorporation of snow days, bussing schedules, and local autonomy. In order to meet state requirements, the West Plains School District has set start times at West Plains Elementary at 7:30 am and end at 2:55 pm; South Fork Elementary will begin at 8:05 am and end at 3:45 pm; and West Plains High School and Middle School will begin at 8:05 am and end at 3:40 pm in 2020-21.
