Creating Optimal Time for Learning
Creating Optimal Time for Learning In alignment with the Barrington 220 Board of Education’s strategic value to create optimal time for learning, the district is adjusting start and end times for all schools beginning next fall. Changing school start times is the third and most complex part of this strategic value. Improving the school-year calendar and implementing kindergarten enrichment have already been accomplished.
The Board of Education, administration and Input 220 Advisory Council studied the possibility of changing start times for more than a year before deciding on a plan that best suited the needs of the Barrington 220 School District and community.
Research and Rationale Medical research supports a start time of 8:30 a.m. or later for middle and high school students. For schools that have made the change to a later start, the beneďŹ ts have been signiďŹ cant.
Higher test scores
Decline in mental health issues
Reduction in absenteeism / tardiness
Decline in substance abuse
2017-18 Start Times
Barrington High School 8:30 a.m. - 3:21 p.m.
Middle Schools 9:00 a.m. - 3:55 p.m.
Elementary Schools 8:00 a.m. - 2:40 p.m.
Barrington High School 8:30 a.m. - 3:21 p.m. Aligned with adolescent medical sleep research Dedicated high school bus fleet allowing for future flexibility with start and end times Allows for future consideration of a Flexpath schedule
Traditional 8-Period Schedule for 2017-18 School Year Period 1
8:30 – 9:17
Period 2
9:22 – 10:09
Period 3
10:14 – 11:01
Period 4
11:06 – 11:53
Period 5
11:58 – 12:45
Period 6
12:50 – 1:37
Period 7
1:42 –2:29
Period 8
2:34 – 3:21
Many area high schools are moving to a later start. Stevenson H.S.
8:30 A.M.
Lake Forest H.S.
8:15 & 9:00 A.M.
New Trier H.S.
8:25 & 8:45 A.M.
Later high school dismissal times are becoming more frequent in Barrington High School’s athletic conference. Conant H.S.
3:30 P.M.
Palatine H.S.
3:30 P.M.
Middle School 9:00 a.m. - 3:55 p.m. Within the American Academy of Pediatrics’ acceptable range for middle and high school start times, Barrington Middle Schools school will shift about one hour later in the day. Middle school boundaries will NOT change under the new schedule. Later middle school start times are becoming more frequent. Wilmette District 39
8:49 A.M.
Winnetka District 36
8:36 A.M.
Dundee District 300
8:45 A.M.
Elementary School 8:00 a.m. - 2:40 p.m. Understanding that many of our youngest students have the most academic focus earlier in the morning, Elementary schools will begin at 8 a.m. Successful school districts nationwide have elementary start times earlier than 9 a.m. Earlier start times at the elementary level are common in area schools including: Naperville District 203
8:00 A.M.
Palatine District 15
7:50 A.M.
St. Anne School
8:15 A.M.
We anticipate after school care needs will increase with this schedule, so we are working with outside organizations to provide additional and affordable after school child care in our buildings for families that need it.
Operational Considerations The board of education made its decision in early November to allow enough time for both our staff and community partners to make operational adjustments before school begins again next August. Transportation, class schedules, childcare, extra-curricular and athletic activities are among many topics being evaluated by Barrington 220 administration at this time to allow for a smooth start to the 2017-18 school year.
We are conďŹ dent that the board of education’s decision to change school start times beginning in August of 2017 will create optimal time for learning for Barrington 220 students across all grade levels.