MADISON, Wis. -- For many students in the area, summer isn't winding down it's already over.

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Lakeside Lutheran Schools in Lake Mills and Edgewood High School in Madison welcomed students back to campus for the first day of the new school year on Monday.

"There comes a point in time in the summer when, for kids, they say, 'I've gone through my summer camps. I've gone through the Little League season, swimming, vacations,' and they're ready to see their friends. They're ready to be around adults that they trust and that they know and start another school year," said Edgewood High School President Judd Schemmel.

Schemmel said Edgewood High School moved up its start date by one week this year and moved up the time to 7:50 a.m.

"It would typically be around this time for a couple of reasons," said Schemmel. "Most of our students are already on campus for some type of extra-curricular whether it's the football program or volleyball. So they're here on campus to begin with so we simply extended that out and started school at the same time."

Private schools do not fall under the state law, which prohibits public schools from starting earlier than Sept. 1.

"So we have the opportunity, if it makes sense, to start in advance," said Schemmel. "For us it allows us to get our full semester's work done before the holiday break. So, when our students are done in December they get two full weeks off without studying for exams and come back refreshed and ready to go for the second semester."

Most public school students return to school after the holiday break to tackle semester exams.

"I think that does contribute to higher student performance, not having that gap in there," said Legislative Services director Dan Rossmiller with the Wisconsin Association of School Boards.

Another advantage, according to Schemmel, is that Edgewood students have two extra weeks of school tucked under their belt when completing Advance Placement or SAT exams.

Both private and public school students take the exams at the same time.

The Wisconsin Association of School Boards has opposed the state-mandated start date for public school districts.

"It was a change that was made without any educational policy reason for it," said Rossmiller. "It was done primarily for economic reasons to benefit the summer economy of the state."

"The question is, is that best preparing our students for global economics, best preparing the Wisconsin economy for the future?" said Rossmiller.

Schemmel said Edgewood made its start date to best fit its students, families and academic goals.

"We have the opportunity, and we're thankful for that, to make the decision for what works best for us, for our kids, their families and for the education that we're trying to provide," said Schemmel.

"We think that local school boards are in the best position, they're closest to their communities to know what's best for their children and the community," said Rossmiller.

WISC-TV found students on both sides of the issue, but more leaning towards "ready to go back to school" at this point.

Schemmel said the first day back on Monday was exciting.

"I will tell people every year that one of my favorite days is this day because the faculty and staff and students breathe a vitality into this building that's undeniable," said Schemmel. "It's a terrific day for everybody involved."

Schemmel said all students were in a good mood.

"On the front end we make the decision to bring them in a little early, but we finish it up the third week in May and they're happy to be done at that time," said Schemmel.

The Wisconsin Association of School Boards said they consistently lobby against the Sept. 1 start-date law and would like to see it changed.

Officials with the school board association said they do hear from school principals who said they see more students in their office in those first two weeks of June when public school is winding down.