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CHICAGO (CBS) ― It was a little uncomfortable for some Chicago Public Schools students who had to go back to class on Monday. Nearly two dozen new year-round schools opened in the CPS system on Monday, a big adjustment for students, especially at some buildings that don't have air conditioners.

At Claremont Academy in West Englewood, Jornell Jackson stood in line with the rest of his classmates. While most of them seemed eager to start this first day of school in the middle of the summer, Jackson had issues.

"I usually sleep till noon. I had to wake up at 7am, get ready, take a shower. I just don't feel like coming back to school this early," Jackson said.

Last year, the Chicago Public Schools had 18 year-round schools. This year, there are 41, including more than a dozen in the Englewood neighborhood alone. That means for thousands of students, it's the first time school is starting in early August, instead of early September.

The year-round system means the students will have 45 days of class, then a two week break, then another 45 days of class and another two week break.

"We're hoping by having our students in school we'll see a rise in their test scores and their academic ability," Claremont Principal Rebecca Stinson said.

Teachers like Jonathan Meeks also support the year-round system. "It's a great time. Our school is air conditioned. Good time for them to be in a nice cool place," Meeks said.

Claremont students are lucky to be in a nice cool place in August. A few miles away, Benjamin Mays is among the many schools where students aren't so lucky; they have no air conditioning.

"It make it hard for me to do my work. You gotta keep fanning yourself," student Charles Thomas said.

"It's okay because we got the fan. I'm right next to it," student Dantril Brown said.

Every classroom at Mays has a fan and Principal Patricia McCann made sure there were popsicles and water to keep students cool.

"They have to get back here. They can't be out two or three months. They have to get back to school," McCann said.

The vast majority at Mays did return to school; out of 290 students, 256 showed up. The numbers were not as good at Claremont; about 700 students are enrolled there, but only 450 showed up.

McCann said it takes a little time for students and parents to adjust to the year-round system.

At one of the schools, Doolittle Elementary School, at 535 E. 35th St. in the Bronzeville neighborhood, Maliki Thomas and his classmates were eager to start the pre-kindergarten program. Children carried new backpacks, and some wore their uniforms as they walked in the rain with their parents.

The older students at Doolittle Elementary started year round school last year. Kids are still coming around, but parents are big fans of the program.

"I'm glad to keep my kids out of trouble," said parent Shameika Thomas.

"They get out before the other regular kids do, so that's kind of a plus – I remind my son of that, and so when they go back three weeks earlier than everybody else, that's still a plus," said parent Candice Woods.

But parents say not all the kids were so enthusiastic.

Ben Graham said during the summer, his son had said: "'I want to go to school! I want to go to school!' So yesterday, I told him, 'You're going to school tomorrow.' I woke him up this morning to go to school and he says, 'Yeah, I don't think I want to go."

CBS 2's Joanie Lum and Dorothy Tucker contributed to this report.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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