Owen J. Roberts To Begin School With Later Start Times

POTTSTOWN, PA — Owen J. Roberts will start school later during the coming 2024-25 school year after the district agreed with experts recommending the health benefits of extra time to sleep for growing teenagers.

The decision was also made due to increased availability of school bus drivers at the slightly later time, school officials said.

The high school and middle school will begin at 8 a.m., about a half hour later, and end at 2:45 p.m.

The elementary school will begin at 8:50 a.m., about 20 minutes later, and end at 3:30 p.m.

The decision was made after a lengthy investigation process.

"(The district) conducted extensive research focused on school start times and student sleep health, as well as solicited multiple rounds of feedback on the subject from students, families, staff and the community in the form of surveys, presentations, town halls and other meetings," the district said in a statement.

Morning half day kindergartens will run from 8:50 a.m. to 11:35 a.m., while afternoon kindergartens will run from 12:35 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The first day of school is Aug. 26.