More than 111,000 students in the San Diego Unified School District head back to school on Monday, a week earlier than usual.
San Diego schools traditionally started after Labor Day, even though classes began earlier in most school other districts in the county.
Superintendent Cindy Marten recommended the change to give high school students in advanced placement courses more instruction time before spring tests and to provide more opportunities for those wanting to participate in summer college and athletic programs.
Returning students will find enhanced performing arts programs, with 900 new musical instruments, and more than 13,000 computers that can be taken home. Many schools were renovated over the summer.
The new school year begins a week after the district received good news about the statewide Smarter Balanced test.
Among large, urban districts in the state, San Diego Unified students ranked first in English language arts — an improvement from second last year — and second in mathematics behind San Francisco.
