Are you in favor of shifting school start times?

Since 2015, Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) has been researching and discussing the possibility of changing school start times. Medical research points to the benefits of later start times for adolescents (age 11-17) due to significant changes in their sleep patterns and our current high school schedule doesn't align with the research.

You are encouraged to view the resources on our website.

After reviewing previous survey results and transportation needs, including multiple scheduling implications, VBCPS administrators recommend introducing an elementary-middle-high model, described below, that maintains the present four-tier transportation system. This scenario best satisfies our present parameters.  This proposed start time would allow high schoolers to start later, prevent most elementary students from waiting for buses before 7 a.m. and avoid a major addition of buses and drivers by maintaining a two-tier elementary schedule. It is these same parameters that hinder the feasibility of revised high school start times earlier than 9:20 a.m. 

Specific additional costs are included inside the survey.

Elementary A Schools: 7:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Elementary B Schools: 8:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Middle Schools: 8:40 a.m. – 3:10 p.m.
High Schools: 9:20 a.m. – 4:10 p.m.