For the 2024-2025 school year, APS introduced a new schedule that includes school starting and ending 15 minutes earlier than in previous years.
With the new schedule, Midtown’s school day will start at 8:30 a.m. and end at 3:30 p.m. This new change has prompted mixed reactions from students, but the positives far outweigh the negatives
As sleep deprivation is already a widespread issue for many high school students, this may seem like a harmful policy. However, the benefits of an earlier ending time makes this new change more than worth it for Midtown students.
The main benefit of the new schedule is that students have more time after school for activities, extracurriculars and tutorials. Students now have more time to participate in a club, sport they enjoy or get help from a teacher. The largest benefit of this change, however, is the added flexibility for students to partake in multiple after school activities.
Students can now participate in more clubs and activities that Midtown has to offer, which will contribute to a more connected school environment. Students also have more chances to make friends and interact with each other.
Some clubs, like the STEAM Teens Club and the Technology Student Association, are still sticking to their usual start times, despite school ending earlier. This allows students the chance to meet with teachers after school and still make it to practices or club meetings on time.
Last year, students would only have time to go from class to their club, but with an extra 15 minutes, they can go see a teacher, talk to them about an assignment or discuss grades. 15 minutes of extra time with a teacher might not seem like a lot, but it’s enough time to allow students to receive help with classes. This change can be extremely beneficial for students, and can further ensure they succeed in all their classes.
Not only that, but ending school earlier allows students more time for tutorial. Tutoring is very beneficial to students as one-on-one time with a teacher can assist with their academics. According to a study by San Bernardino College, tutoring and academic help led to an increase in students’ scores across all subjects.
Allocating more time for extracurriculars is extremely important too. According to the National Honor Society, extracurricular activities lead to higher grades and higher attendance as students are motivated to come to school.
Colleges are attracted to students who have strong grades, but are also involved in activities outside of school. The schedule change and the flexibility that comes with it allows students more chances to partake in after school activities and get their grades up, thus bettering their chances at getting into college.
The change also benefits students with jobs, as students have more time to work after school. According to Walden University, students acquiring a job while still enrolled in school can help them learn the value of money, how to better manage their time and how to build confidence.
The schedule change means that the students working jobs can get to work earlier and be on the clock for longer. The average high school student makes $15.47 an hour. 15 minutes of extra work means $3.9 extra salary. These savings add up over time, and equal over $77 a month if a student works every day.
Some students don’t work every day, but they are still making more money than they would have otherwise, regardless of how often they go to work. Even if students can’t start work early, an extra 15 minutes could still give them more time to get to work or do something productive before work.
Another benefit of the schedule change is the benefit of beating the rush hour traffic. Atlanta residents waste 61 hours a year stuck in traffic, and Midtown students and staff add to this total every day. Leaving school 15 minutes earlier may help to soften the blow of the rush hour traffic, as the roads are less busy.
The early schedule doesn’t change the fact that everyone is leaving Midtown all at once, which often causes congestion. However, if the roads around Midtown are less crowded, it might make it easier for students and staff to leave school efficiently.
Students will have to make a sacrifice to get to school earlier, but when the benefits are considered, the schedule change provides a great opportunity for students to become more involved with school and after school activities. The positives of the schedule change makes it worth it for students and staff.
