It's like a dance. You may not get your preferred partner, but at least you have a choice.

At the new Falcon Ridge Elementary, which opened for its first day of school Monday in West Jordan, parents get a choice of four schedules, or "tracks." Students in the A, B and C tracks started classes Monday. Students in the D track, meanwhile, savor their summer until Aug. 18, the same day students in the C track break for three weeks. Come Sept. 8, C track students return so B-track students can break for three weeks. Students in the B track return Sept. 29, at which time A track students break.

Confused? The rhythm may be off-putting, but many Utah families work it out.

The year-round model of classrooms as musical chairs was introduced to a handful of Wasatch Front elementary schools years ago to increase enrollment capacity by as much as 25 percent. In a state hurting for educational funding, it didn't take long to spread. From the original Jordan School District, 32 of its 60 elementary schools now adhere to the year-round schedule, according to spokesman Michael Kelley.

"It's probably the most feasible way of accommodating a growing student population," Kelley said. "And if you're slightly behind the curve in school construction, it's a slight help."

Teachers laud the format as the ideal teaching schedule. Nine weeks is just enough time for intense, quality instruction, followed by three weeks for students to decompress while teachers prepare the next round of lessons. A short summer means students don't need as much "re-teaching" after the traditional three-month summer break. Plus, many teachers enjoy the novelty of taking a fall or winter vacation.

"I love it," said Amy Adams, a fifth-grade teacher at Falcon Ridge. "The traditional schedule can be a stretch. Nine months of almost nonstop school is a long haul for everyone concerned."

The format gets mixed reviews from parents, however. Middle schools and high schools have yet to experiment with year-round schedules, leaving families with elementary- and high school-age children sometimes stretching their schedule to the breaking point.

Schools try to meet as many requests as possible from families with two elementary students desiring the same track, or students who want the same track as a friend. Those who settle for a second, third, or even fourth choice can be disappointed.

"The year's too broken up," said Elizabeth Stanley, parent of a second-grader at Falcon Ridge. "It can also be hard for your child to find someone to play with when everyone's on different tracks."