3-ring binders, in general, were terrible. It was very common to pick up a binder and have the papers fall out because the ring mechanism was broken and didn't close correctly. I don't think any of mine ever lasted a single school year.
When my son gets to school age I'm going to work this problem with him. file folders, plastic accordions, whatever he wants to work with really. The true secret of success is typing your notes up later, but we'll deal with that when we deal with that.