The Record's two-day roundup of what's new in area schools omitted the following districts. OAKLAND The district's schools have been spruced up over the summer. Crews have remodeled the gymnasium at Dogwood school.

By Dana Hull Kyle Hernandez slumped against the gym wall as he thought about the upcoming school year. It was the first day of school, and he's a freshman. "I'm a little nervous," said Kyle, 14, who just started at Overfelt High School in San Jose. "In middle school, your parents do more for you.

By ELIZABETH WHITE Educators try single-grade classes to protect, encourage students.

In fall 2006, Suffolk had 1,366 ninth-graders. The next year there were 1,078 sophomores, a 21 percent decline .

By Elizabeth White SAN ANTONIO - Ninth grade, often the first year of high school, is a critical time when many students sink or swim while coping with new academic responsibilities and learning the oh-so-important social hierarchy.