New bus routes, meal prices mark 1st day of year-round school for Wake students

Students enrolled in traditional public schools will head back to classrooms on August 29, but the first day of the new 2016-2017 school year starts early for year-round students.

On July 11, thousands of students will attend Wake County's 37 year-round elementary schools and 11 year-round middle schools. At year-round schools, students attend class the same number of days as students at traditional schools but in shorter bursts throughout the year.

Year-round students have periodic, short breaks rather than one long summer break.

Five new schools will open in Wake County for the new school year, the first being Pine Hollow, a 149,505 square-foot, three-story middle school in Raleigh that will serve 1,280 students.

The other new schools, opening in August, are traditional calendar elementary schools in Raleigh (Beaverdam Elementary), Apex (Oakview Elementatry, White Oak Elementary) and Morrisville (Pleasant Grove Elementary).

School meal prices have increased this year for the first time in six years. Elementary school meals will increase 25 cents to $1.25 for breakfast and $2.25 for lunch. Middle and high school meals will increase 25 cents to $1.50 for breakfast and $2.50 for lunch.

New and returning students and their parents are asked to check bus routes this year, as many stops have changed since the last school year ended.

Finally, with so many students returning to school, Wake County Public School System officials are reminding motorists to drive safely and obey traffic laws around buses and bus stops.