Anacortes schools consider later start

1-21-2019

ANACORTES, Wash. — The Anacortes School District is considering changing start times.

Superintendent Mark Winzel told the Skagit Valley Herald that a group of parents asked the district to push back the 7:30 start times at the middle and high schools in 2017, saying the early start time goes against students’ natural development.

This stems in part from a study by the American Academy of Pediatrics saying later start times lead to better grades, improved attendance and lower rates of obesity and depression.

The district is proposing pushing the middle school start time to 8:00 and the high school start time to 8:05, as logistical issues with buses would not allow the desired 8:30 start.