Year-round schooling is an ­innovative scheduling concept that was introduced into Moore County schools about 10 years ago.

The idea of attending school for four nine-week blocks throughout the year with three-week “intersessions” in-between has become a popular alternative for parents of about 575 ­students at three schools in Moore County.

Southern Pines Primary and Southern Pines Elementary in Southern Pines and Academy Heights Elementary in Pinehurst all offer the alternative to ­parents.

Many parents find that a year-round program is best suited to their student’s learning style, as well as to the family’s lifestyle. Students attend the same number of days as their ­counterparts in traditional schools. Their days are simply redistributed into four blocks throughout the year.

Traditional holidays are included in the development of the calendar and may lengthen the ­intersession.

The basic instructional program is the same at ­year-round and traditional schools. The year-round schedule is coordinated with the traditional schedule so they share holidays and the school year ends at the same time to allow summer school attendance for those who wish to participate.

Services for exceptional children and gifted (AIG) classes are planned to match those in the traditional ­program.

Although Academy Heights Elementary offers only the year-round schedule, students at Southern Pines Primary and Southern Pines Elementary have the option of a year-round schedule or the traditional nine-month schedule.

“We function as one school — the same bell schedule, the same ­curriculum offerings and all students have the same opportunities,” said Southern Pines Elementary Principal Burgin Bealee. “Also, we are pleased to see that our minority participation has increased each year.”

Moore County schools have an open enrollment policy that allows parents to make application for their child to attend any other school in the county as long as space is available and they ­provide transportation. Unfortunately, Principal Dale Buie noted, Academy Heights Elementary is not accepting applications for the 2008-2009 school year from outside the Pinehurst attendance area because of limited space.

However, Southern Pines Primary and Southern Pines Elementary are ­accepting students who live outside the Southern Pines attendance area.

“All a parent needs to do is stop by one of our schools between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. and pick up an application packet,” said Southern Pines Primary Principal Mary Scott Harrison.

Southern Pines Primary also offers an after-school program that lasts until 6 p.m. for a modest fee.

All three principals agree that the main purpose of the year-round ­program is for parents to have a choice.

“It suits some families’ schedules ­better and is better suited to the way some students learn,” said Beale.

“There are those who prefer the year-round schedule, but there are also those who prefer the traditional schedule,” said Harrison. “The whole purpose is to give parents a choice.”