The new Hopewell calendar has nine straight weeks of instruction followed by either three weeks of vacation, two weeks of intersession — community projects, camps and field trips, among other things — or a combination of the two.

Students will get six weeks off in the summer. They still will have 180 days of school like they do now, just spread out over the course of the full year.

“With every child on the same schedule, it creates great opportunities,” said Hopewell High School Principal Stephanie Poe.

During public comment, two people spoke in opposition to the idea — both cited the cost — while two others spoke in favor of the proposal. A grant from the Virginia Department of Education has been covering the planning costs. Hopewell also will depend on the state for money to operate on the year-round schedule.

School officials said going year-round will help improve student achievement. Hopewell currently lags state averages in math, reading, writing, science and social studies.

“Most of our kids need more and they need different,” Hackney said before the vote.