There is no single best chart. Ages, distance, work shifts, and how kids handle transitions all matter. What follows is a menu, not a verdict.
Alternating weeks: one week each. Fewer transitions. Longer gaps for the off parent. Often workable for older kids and longer drives.
Midweek overlays: weekends with one parent, a midweek overnight with the other. Keeps both parents in the school rhythm.
Rotating blocks such as two / two / three, then swap. More transitions, more frequent contact. Frequent contact may suit some children when both caregivers are safe and capable; age alone does not choose the right schedule. Harder when homes are far apart.
Primary home on school nights with alternating weekends. Can stabilize mornings. Can feel imbalanced if the other time is thin.
When you compare, ask practical questions. Transitions per week. Commute length. Who handles mornings. How holidays sit on top. What exam week or sports season feels like inside that pattern.
Write start and end times. Fuzzy evenings create conflict. Try a temporary schedule before you treat it as forever when your situation allows. Get professional guidance for formal orders. This is education, not legal advice.
Choose the schedule your child can live inside, not the one that wins the argument.