Later Bells, Better Days?  Is 9:05 a good starting time? 

By: Bruce H., Grade 9 

At many schools, the debate over the best starting time for school is still ongoing. But for students whose school day already begins at 9:05 a.m., the question sounds a little different: Is this late enough, or should it start even later? For some students, the current schedule feels like a big improvement to their former schools.  

“Starting at 9:05 honestly seems like a good time for me,” said Emma. “I’m actually awake when classes start, and I don’t feel rushed every morning.”  

Others agree that the later start has helped them academically.  

“My grades went up this year, after transferring schools, where it used to start at 8:15” said Emilio. “I’m focused in first period, and I don’t feel like I’m fighting sleep the whole time.”  

Even so, not everyone thinks pushing the day later would help. Some students feel the current start time is the right balance.  

“I think 9:05 is late enough,” said Deniz. “If we start any later, school will end too late, and that would mess with sports, homework, and jobs.” 

After school activities are a common concern. Students involved in athletics and clubs worry that extending the day would create new problems.  

“We already get home pretty late,” said Trey. “If school started later, practices would go later too, and homework would keep us up even longer.”  

Mental health also plays a role in the discussion. While many students appreciate the extra sleep the 9:05 start allows, some say sleep habits matter just as much as schedules.  

“Starting later helps, but students still stay up really late,” said Jonatan. “At some point, it’s also about managing our time better.”  

Overall, students seem to agree on one thing: the 9:05 start time is a noticeable improvement compared to earlier schedules. Whether school should begin even later remains up for debate, but many feel their current schedule already supports better focus, health, and learning.  

“School starting at 9:05 just makes sense,” Emma said. “It feels like the system is finally working with us instead of against us.”