(Martensdale, IA) -- One central Iowa school district says a four-day week is proving to be a solution to a few problems, especially for middle and high school students.
Bill Watson is the Martensdale-St. Marys Superintendent.
"We've seen a 71% improvement in terms of students failing classes after the first quarter," Watson says. "And we've seen an 80% improvement on failed classes. We've seen a 69% decrease in secondary office referrals."
But it's not just the students that have reaped the benefits. The district has also seen an increase in teachers applying for openings.
"For some comparison sake, the year previous we had four openings for elementary positions and we had six applicants," Watson says. "This year for our first elementary opening we had 19 applicants."
To accommodate, 50 minutes were added to each of the remaining school days, and they consist of eight 51 minute periods.
"I think if you were to come to school you would see students and teachers engaged the entire time they're here," Watson says. "They're moving, they're learning and there's always something going on."
Other districts that have switched to a four-day week include Saydel, located between Ankeny and Des Moines, and the Melcher-Dallas district near Knoxville.