Students at two Columbus elementary schools will operate next year under an 11-month calendar.

The program was approved this week by the Columbus Municipal School Board for the Sale and Stokes-Beard elementary schools.

Beginning this fall, students at the two schools will attend 199 school days between Aug. 5 and June 17. Six other city schools will operate on a 181-day calendar from Aug. 5 to May 21.

Superintendent Del Phillips says parents and teachers at the two schools were supportive of the program.

Phillips had pushed the 11-month calendar as part of a plan to raise academic performance throughout the district.

Phillips says implementation of the calendar at the two schools is expected to cost about $375,000.