School's in for summer.

There were some interesting changes in the magnet/calendar selection criteria this year.

Administrators used lower crowding percentage cutoffs this year for magnet schools and year-round schools. Also now that the pass rates on the revised state end-of-grade exams are much lower, they're no longer factoring in the scores for the applicant's base school.

Administrators also tightened up some of the wording on the traditional-calendar selection criteria.

The Growth and Planning Department is making one change in the magnet and year-round selection process this year.

In a nutshell, they won't use the same set of criteria for every magnet school and year-round school. Instead, they'll adjust it depending on the demographics of that particular application school.

Whether it's a major change remains to be seen.

After a month-long summer break, about 3,400 elementary and middle-schoolers will be heading back to class on Monday, as Durham’s five year-round schools begin the new school year.

Take note that today and tomorrow are the open houses for parents at Easley, Holt and Pearsontown elementaries and Chewning and Rogers-Herr middle schools. (Here's the schedule.)

School supply lists are out, and parents should know that tax-free weekend is scheduled for Aug. 1 through Aug. 3, during which school supplies, and most clothes, electronics and sports equipment are exempt from sales taxes.