From NPR.

It may still feel like high summer, but for some students, it’s high time to hit the books — with students’ return to school now happening well before Labor Day in some places.

A study by the Pew Research Center found substantial regional variations: The Southwest may start weeks before those in the Southeast, where back to school tends to be early August, and in the Northeast, many go back in September.

Reasons for schools bumping up their start dates vary. Many say it’s to maximize learning, although, in the Bay Area, they cite more time to help students prepare for spring’s standardized tests, and in Atlanta, officials say it’s better to scatter more breaks throughout the year.