As the school year kicks off for many families across the U.S., a new CivicScience survey digs into opinions on whether kids should attend school year-round. Based on responses from over 28,000 U.S. adults in the last 10 years, the data reveal that 30% believe kids should go to school year-round, while 64% disagree and see summer break as important. The remaining 6% are undecided.
Support for year-round schooling is strongest among Gen X adults (ages 45–64), while Gen Z—the age group most likely to be currently in school—is the most likely to oppose it. Women, high-income households (earning over $100K), those with professional or graduate degrees, and residents of Western states also show higher support.
But demographics aren’t the only thing setting supporters apart:
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Work Patterns: Supporters are twice as likely to be stay-at-home parents or have a side gig.
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Education Concern: They’re five percentage points more likely to say they’re ‘very’ concerned about the current state of public education (69% vs. 64%).
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Family Size: Supporters tend to have fewer children, while opponents are more likely to have four or more kids.
- Media Habits: 53% of supporters listen to the radio daily, compared to only 36% of those who disapprove.
Supporters of year-round schooling stand out not just for their demographic profiles, but for how they live, work, and think about education. From balancing alternative work schedules to consuming more traditional media, these Americans show that the debate over summer break is as much about lifestyle as it is about learning.
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This article’s data comes solely from CivicScience’s database, which contains nearly 700,000 poll questions and 5 billion consumer insights.