The start and end times at Rocky Mountain High School are no stranger to change, with the most recent one being for the 2024-25 school year. Instead of starting at 9 AM and ending at 4 PM, this year Rocky starts at 9:05 AM and ends at 4:05 PM.
Middle school start and end times were also changed; starting at 7:30 AM and ending at 2:25 PM. These changes were made in response to bus driver shortages and were originally proposed as a one-year change. However, an article recently published by The Coloradoan explains even more possible changes in start times for middle and high schools in the Poudre School District. No official decisions have been made, however, the Board of Education is looking for additional feedback as it considers several different options for the next school year.
Poudre School District has faced declining enrollment for a number of years now, and as a result, has had to make several reductions to the budget. Many of the possibilities for new start times involve an increase in the need for buses and drivers from “9 to 28” and an increase in cost from “$1 million to $3.2 million a year” according to the article. The only cost-neutral option turned out to be continuing with a 95-minute spread in start times starting at 8 AM and ending at 9:45 AM.
The options for new start time include swapping current middle school and high school times. In this scenario, Rocky would start at 7:30 AM and end at 2:25 PM. Another possibility is that high schools would start at 9:35 and end at 4:35. The key to any of the options it seems, is that a 95-minute spread is maintained.
Concern about high school extracurriculars, sports, and part time jobs were all taken into account by the Board, resulting in the aforementioned flip of middle and high school times. Input from pediatric professionals over the effects of early start time were also taken into consideration, however, no decisions have been officially made.
As a high schooler, I feel that if the Board of Education should stray away from any decision, it should be that of the 9:35 to 4:35 schedule. Walking out of the building five minutes later than last year is already somewhat bothersome, especially during the winter when I look up and see the sun has already begun to set. The idea of leaving the building when it’s nearly dark out is, frankly, unbearable.
It is not, however, just about how bright it is. Pushing start times back by another 30 minutes would push everything else back with it. Students with hours of work, extracurriculars, and homework would take a hit to their sleep schedule.
Pushing high school start times back could be negative for a student’s balance as well. For many, school likely already feels like the most important thing. This isn’t necessarily bad, of course, however, the later it starts the more it feels like it takes up the day. It’s not likely anyone would do anything incredibly productive with 30 more minutes in the morning, but leaving school later could tip the balances of school life and social life too far in one direction.
I do understand the need to stay within the budget. Worry over school closure is a constant in my family, however, if the issue with start times is maintaining a 95-minute spread, solving it by pushing high school start times even later shouldn’t be the go to. Five minutes wasn’t a big deal, just an annoyance, but another 30 minutes toes the line between annoying and potentially bigger issues.
