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Start Times

Watch Deputy Superintendent Dr. Kym LeBlanc-Esparza break down the importance of Healthy and Equitable Start and End Times in this video.

Jeffco Public Schools will launch new healthy and equitable start and end times districtwide for the 2023-2024 school year.

The district’s goal is to align start and end times across all Jeffco schools to create consistency for our schools which enables equitable instruction for all students and increased student achievement.

In addition, research shows that healthy school start times (later start times for middle/high school students) result in improved student attendance and graduation rates, more students arriving at school on time, and better overall physical and emotional health.

2023-24 Start and end Times by School

Open the dropdowns below to view start and end times for each school. For additional school information, visit SchoolFinder or your school's website. If you attend a charter school, please contact the school directly for information on start and end times.

Elementary Schools (A–K) Start & End Times

 School Name 2023-24 Start Time 2023-24 End Time
Adams Elementary 7:45 AM 2:35 PM
Belmar School of Integrated Arts 8:15 AM 3:05 PM
Bergen Meadow Primary School 7:45 AM 2:35 PM
Bergen Valley Intermediate School 7:30 AM 2:20 PM
Blue Heron Elementary 7:45 AM 2:35 PM
Columbine Hills Elementary 7:45 AM 2:35 PM
Coronado Elementary 8:05 AM 3:05 PM
Deane Elementary 7:45 AM 2:45 PM
Devinny Elementary 7:45 AM 2:35 PM
Dutch Creek Elementary 7:45 AM 2:35 PM
Edgewater Elementary 8:30 AM 3:30 PM
Eiber Elementary 7:45 AM 2:45 PM
Elk Creek Elementary 7:45 AM 2:35 PM
Fairmount Elementary 7:45 AM 2:45 PM
Foothills Elementary 8:30 AM 3:20 PM
Fremont Elementary 8:15 AM 3:15 PM
Governor's Ranch Elementary 7:45 AM 2:35 PM
Green Gables Elementary 8:05 AM 3:05 PM
Hackberry Hill Elementary 7:45 AM 2:35 PM
Hutchinson Elementary 7:45 AM 2:35 PM
Kendallvue Elementary 8:05 AM 3:05 PM
Kendrick Lakes Elementary 7:45 AM 2:35 PM
Kyffin Elementary 8:45 AM 3:35 PM

Elementary Schools (L–R) Start & End Times

 School Name 2023-24 Start Time 2023-24 End Time
Lasley Elementary 7:45 AM 2:35 PM
Lawrence Elementary 7:45 AM 2:35 PM
Leawood Elementary 7:45 AM 2:35 PM
Little Elementary 8:15 AM 3:15 PM
Lukas Elementary 7:45 AM 2:35 PM
Lumberg Elementary 8:30 AM 3:20 PM
Maple Grove Elementary 7:45 AM 2:35 PM
Marshdale Elementary 7:45 AM 2:35 PM
Meiklejohn Elementary 7:45 AM 2:45 PM
Mitchell Elementary 8:45 AM 3:35 PM
Mortensen Elementary 7:45 AM 2:35 PM
Mount Carbon Elementary 7:45 AM 2:35 PM
Normandy Elementary 7:45 AM 2:35 PM
Parmalee Elementary 7:45 AM 2:35 PM
Patterson International School 7:45 AM 2:35 PM
Peak Expeditionary at Pennington 8:15 AM 3:30 PM
Powderhorn Elementary 7:45 AM 2:35 PM
Prospect Valley Elementary 7:45 AM 2:35 PM
Ralston Elementary 7:45 AM 2:35 PM
Red Rocks Elementary 7:45 AM 2:35 PM
Rooney Ranch Elementary 7:45 AM 2:35 PM
Rose Stein International Elementary 7:45 AM 2:35 PM
Ryan Elementary 7:45 AM 2:35 PM

Elementary Schools (S–W) Start & End Times

School Name 2023-24 Start Time 2023-24 End Time
Secrest Elementary 7:45 AM 2:35 PM
Semper Elementary 7:45 AM 2:35 PM
Shaffer Elementary 7:45 AM 2:35 PM
Shelton Elementary 7:45 AM 2:35 PM
Sierra Elementary 7:45 AM 2:35 PM
Slater Elementary 7:45 AM 2:35 PM
South Lakewood Elementary 7:45 AM 2:35 PM
Stevens Elementary 7:45 AM 2:45 PM
Stober Elementary 7:55 AM 2:45 PM
Stony Creek Elementary 8:05 AM 3:05 PM
Stott Elementary 7:45 AM 2:35 PM
Swanson Elementary 7:45 AM 2:35 PM
Ute Meadows Elementary 7:45 AM 2:35 PM
Van Arsdale Elementary 7:45 AM 2:35 PM
Vanderhoof Elementary 8:15 AM 3:15 PM
Warder Elementary 7:45 AM 2:35 PM
Weber Elementary 8:15 AM 3:15 PM
Welchester Elementary 8:45 AM 3:45 PM
West Jefferson Elementary 7:45 AM 2:35 PM
West Woods Elementary 8:15 AM 3:15 PM
Westgate Elementary 7:45 AM 2:35 PM
Westridge Elementary 7:45 AM 2:35 PM
Wilmot Elementary 7:45 AM 2:35 PM

Middle School Start & End Times

School Name 2023-24 Start Time 2023-24 End Time
Bell Middle School 8:20 AM 3:20 PM
Carmody Middle School 8:50 AM 4:05 PM
Creighton Middle School 8:55 AM 3:55 PM
Deer Creek Middle School 8:50 AM 4:05 PM
Drake Middle School 9:00 AM 4:00 PM
Dunstan Middle School 8:55 AM 3:55 PM
Evergreen Middle School  9:00 AM  4:00 PM
Everitt Middle School 8:55 AM 3:55 PM
Falcon Bluffs Middle School 8:50 AM 4:05 PM
Ken Caryl Middle School 8:50 AM 4:05 PM
Mandalay Middle School 8:30 AM 3:30 PM
Moore Middle School 9:00 AM 4:00 PM
North Arvada Middle School 8:30 AM 3:30 PM
Oberon Middle School 9:00 AM 4:00 PM
Summit Ridge Middle School 8:50 AM 4:05 PM
Wayne Carle Middle School 8:30 AM 3:30 PM
West Jefferson Middle School 8:45 AM 3:45 PM

High School Start & End Times

School Name 2023-24 Start Time 2023-24 End Time
Arvada High School 8:15 AM 3:30 PM
Arvada West High School 8:15 AM 3:30 PM
Bear Creek High School 8:05 AM 3:20 PM
Chatfield Senior High School 8:05 AM 3:20 PM
Columbine High School 8:05 AM 3:20 PM
Conifer High School  8:30 AM  3:45 PM
Dakota Ridge High School 8:05 AM 3:20 PM
Evergreen High School  8:30 AM  3:45 PM
Golden High School 8:15 AM 3:30 PM
Green Mountain High School 8:15 AM 3:30 PM
Lakewood High School 8:10 AM 3:25 PM
Pomona High School 8:15 AM 3:30 PM
Ralston Valley High School 8:15 AM 3:30 PM
Standley Lake High School 8:15 AM 3:30 PM
 Warren Tech (central, north and south campuses)  8:00 AM 3:45 PM
Wheat Ridge High School 8:15 AM 3:30 PM

Multi-Level School Start & End Times (Junior/Senior and K-8)

School Name 2023-24 Start Time 2023-24 End Time
Alameda International Junior/Senior High School 8:15 AM 3:30 PM
Arvada K-8 8:30 AM 3:30 PM
Bear Creek K-8 8:50 AM 3:50 PM
Bradford K8 North 8:50 AM 3:50 PM
Bradford K8 South 8:50 AM 3:50 PM
Coal Creek Canyon K-8 7:45 AM 2:45 PM
Jefferson Junior/Senior High School 8:15 AM 3:30 PM
Three Creeks K-8 7:45 AM 2:45 PM

Option and Alternative School Start & End Times

School Name 2023-24 Start Time 2023-24 End Time
Brady Blended 8:30 AM 3:45 PM
Brady Community School M-W 5:00 PM 8:00 PM
Connections Learning Center 9:00 AM 4:00 PM
D'Evelyn Junior/Senior High School 8:15 AM 3:15 PM
Dennison Elementary 8:00 AM 2:50 PM
Fletcher Miller Special Education School 8:55 AM 3:50 PM
Foster Dual Language PK-8 8:40 AM 3:40 PM
Free Horizon Montessori PK-8 View schedule in SchoolFinder View schedule in SchoolFinder
Jeffco Transition Services 8:00 AM 2:50 PM
Jefferson County Open Elementary School 8:30 AM 3:30 PM
Jefferson County Open Secondary 8:25 AM 3:40 PM
Long View High School 8:00 AM 2:30 PM
Manning School of Academics and Arts 8:25 AM 3:25 PM
McLain Community High School 8:00 AM 2:30 PM
Sobesky Academy 8:00 AM 2:50 PM
Warren Tech (central, north and South campuses) 8:00 AM 3:45 PM

Why New Start and End Times

Current situation

Currently, there are over 100 different school start and end times across schools in Jeffco. Some of our schools start as early as 7:15 a.m., while others begin their day closer to 9:00 a.m. These varying start times create different lengths of the school day and unequal amounts of in-classroom instruction time for students across the district.

Research shows that healthy school start times result in improved student attendance, more students arriving at school on time, and improved graduation rates.

What we want to achieve

Starting in the 2023-24 school year, Jeffco Public Schools will implement new start and end times for schools across the district. The Healthy and Equitable Start Times initiative for next school year is expected to increase efficiency and reliability of transportation and create consistency in instructional time to best serve all students and families. 

  • Later school start time for adolescents – particularly high school students – for better mental and physical health.
  • Establishing an equitable school day length so that all students are receiving the right amount of instructional time for their grade level.
    • Elementary - 6:50 hours to 7:00 hours
    • Middle - 7 hours to 7:15 hours
    • High - 7:15 hours to 7:20 hours
  • Provide a 35-minute lunch break for all schools.
  • More efficient, reliable and cost-effective Transportation services, resulting in fewer canceled routes and cost savings for Jeffco Public Schools.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find my student's school start and end time for the 2023-24 school year?

In November 2022, schools communicated to their families the new start and end times for next school year. All families can go to School Finder to view a school for their 2023-24 start and end times. Families can also view school start and end times on this webpage.

Why is the district changing school start and end times?

Currently, school start and end times vary across schools in Jeffco. Start and end times are different for schools at the same level (elementary, middle, and high) or within the same articulation area. For example, some of our elementary schools start as early as 7:35 a.m. while others begin their day closer to 9:00 a.m. These varying start times create different lengths of the school day and unequal amounts of in-classroom instruction time for students across the district. For example, some elementary students experience nearly half a year less instructional time than other students simply based on the length of their school day. This wide range of start and end times also makes it very expensive and difficult to provide efficient and cost-effective bus transportation.

 

In addition, research on adolescents show that healthy school start times result in improved student attendance, more students arriving at school on time, and improved graduation rates.

What are the benefits of later start times for middle and high school students?

Currently, most Jeffco high schools and middle schools start their school day before 8:00 am.

  • Research shows that healthy school start times result in improved student attendance, more students arriving at school on time, and improved graduation rates. Healthcare professionals, mental health organizations, and sleep experts agree on the benefits of later start times for students. 
  • The American Academy of Pediatrics strongly supports the efforts of school districts to optimize sleep in students and urges high schools and middle schools to aim for start times that allow students the opportunity to achieve optimal levels of sleep (8.5–9.5 hours) which results in improved physical and mental health, safety, academic performance, and quality of life.

What impacts will these changes have on schools (including athletics and activities), transportation, and childcare, and how is Jeffco preparing for them? 

  • Jeffco’s Transportation Department has been working to optimize bus routing across the district, identifying the necessary number of routes, drivers, and stops as well as identifying pick up and drop off times for students across the district. Bus routes were announced at the end of July. Some fine-tuning of route details may be finalized up until the start of school as families of eligible riders decide whether or not their student(s) plan to utilize transportation services. If you have questions about transportation services for your students, please contact the Transportation and Fleet Services team. 
  • Jeffco athletics and activities has been working with building athletic directors and coaches to identify concerns and needs with the shift in start and dismissal times. This information is being used to determine solutions to these issues. 
  • Jeffco child care providers are working to determine child care needs across the district as start and dismissal times change. Part of this work will include gathering input from families and staff who anticipate changes in their childcare needs as a result of the new start and end times for the schools their children attend. 
  • Jeffco district leadership is communicating to student employees and school principals to understand schools’ specific needs

Are there other school districts that have implemented this change?

Yes. Many of our neighboring school districts have either made similar changes to their start and end times, or are in the process of doing so. We are learning from their work as we prepare to implement this next school year. The districts include: Adams 12 School District, Boulder Valley School District, Brighton 27J, Cherry Creek School District, Denver Public Schools, Littleton Public Schools, and more. 

I thought all the start and end times would be the same. Why are they different?

Like many districts across the country, Jeffco is experiencing a severe bus driver shortage. In the 2022-23 school year, we experienced a shortage of nearly 60 drivers, which led to route cancellations and inconsistencies in service.

In considering more healthy and equitable start and end times for the 2023-24 school year, new schedules have been built with our current staffing numbers rather than an expectation of previous staffing levels. This means that not all schools will have exactly the same start and end time.

Jeffco took this more flexible approach to start and end times to meet the goals of the project while ensuring that students could be best served by transportation. 

How did the Healthy and Equitable Start Times initiative start and who was involved?

The initiative started through grassroots community engagement. In 2017, a group of parents inquired with the district about setting equitable start times for all schools to help ensure equitable learning in the typical school day.

The Start Times Task Force was formed and over the past six years, a diverse group of families, Jeffco Public Schools staff, and community members have studied the issue and explored options. In January 2022, the Jeffco Board of Education instructed the Superintendent to explore what it would take to launch healthy and equitable start and end times. The Task Force shared their findings (including an overwhelming response to a community survey) and recommendations and a district Implementation team was put in place to continue this important work.

View the board documents listed below that include presentations to the Board of Education around the need for new start and end times and the work involved to make this initiative a reality.

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