Students Sleep In
- Gianna Renaldi
- Apr 1
- 2 min read
Charlotte Catholic has announced that beginning next school year, the school day will shift from its current 7:35 a.m.–2:35 p.m. schedule to a new 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. schedule. Administration shared the change in a recent email to students and parents, citing student wellness and academic focus as key reasons for the adjustment.
According to the announcement, the length of the school day will remain the same, and all seven class periods, break, and lunch will be included. The only change will be the later start and end times. Mr. Telford explained, “We believe this new schedule will better align with the natural sleep patterns of high school students. Our hope is that students will arrive more rested and ready to learn.”
This decision comes after months of discussion and review of research on later school start times for teenagers. Administration also noted that the new schedule may help reduce tardies and improve overall attentiveness in morning classes. Teachers explained that they see “a lot more students put their head down and even fall asleep in their A and B period classes compared to classes later in the day.” Teachers were informed of the potential change earlier this semester and have been preparing to adjust their lesson plans accordingly.
The shift in schedule will also affect after-school activities. Most sports practices will now begin at 4:45 p.m., generally finishing by 6:30 p.m. Club meetings will continue to be held after school, but some may move to before-school time slots starting at 8:15 a.m. to accommodate students with busy afternoons. Coaches and club leaders have been asked to communicate any changes to their members before the end of the year.
Bus routes will be adjusted to match the new start time, and the school is working with the transportation department to finalize pick-up and drop-off schedules. The cafeteria will also open later in the morning, starting to serve breakfast at 8:30 a.m. instead of its current start at 7:00 a.m.
Charlotte Catholic plans to release a detailed bell schedule later this spring so students and families can prepare for the change. The new 9:00 a.m –4:00 p.m. schedule is set to go into effect on the first day of the 2026-27 school year.
