Families in East Baton Rouge Parish could soon see changes to when the school day begins.
District leaders are exploring new school start times that would shift when students begin and end their day. The goal is to help students get more sleep, improve academic performance, and support overall student wellbeing.
For many Baton Rouge parents, the change could affect everything from morning routines and bus schedules to after-school activities and work schedules.
While the plan is still being rolled out in phases, it could eventually impact tens of thousands of students across East Baton Rouge Parish schools.
What Baton Rouge Parents Need to Know
Proposed School Start Times in East Baton Rouge Parish
Under the proposed schedule changes:
Middle and High Schools
- Start time: 8:50 AM
- Dismissal: 4:05 PM
Elementary Schools
- Start time: 8:00 AM
- Dismissal: 3:15 PM
Right now, many middle and high school students in East Baton Rouge Parish School System start their day as early as 7:10 AM.
That means some Baton Rouge students are already waiting at bus stops before sunrise.
District leaders say moving the start time later for older students better matches teen sleep cycles, which naturally shift during adolescence.
For parents, that could mean less rushed mornings for teens, but possibly earlier mornings for elementary families.
Why Baton Rouge Schools Are Considering Later Start Times
Research from the Centers for Disease Control and the American Academy of Pediatrics shows that later school start times for teenagers can lead to:
- Better sleep
- Improved academic performance
- Fewer absences and tardies
- Better mental health
School leaders say students who get more sleep are more alert, focused, and ready to learn during the school day.
Many school districts across the country have already made similar adjustments in recent years.
Schools Already Testing the New Schedule
East Baton Rouge Parish has already launched a pilot program at several schools, including:
- Capital High School
- Glen Oaks High School
- Several feeder schools
The next group of schools being considered includes Belaire High School and five of its feeder schools.
Those schools could see schedule changes as early as the upcoming school year.
Altogether, the first phase impacts about 5,000 students across Baton Rouge schools.
What Parents and Teachers Are Saying
Feedback from the pilot program has been mixed.
Some schools have reported positive changes, including:
- Fewer tardies
- Fewer disciplinary issues
- Students appearing more alert in class
However, some Baton Rouge parents and teachers have raised concerns about how the changes could affect daily schedules.
Common concerns include:
- Later dismissal times affecting after-school jobs
- Transportation challenges due to bus driver shortages
- Students leaving school early for work shifts
- Possible changes to feeder school patterns
District leaders say they are continuing to gather feedback as the program expands.
Timeline for Possible District-Wide Changes
Superintendent LaMont Cole has proposed gradually expanding the new start times across the district.
The tentative timeline includes:
- More schools added in 2026–2027
- Additional schools transitioning in 2027–2028
- Potential district-wide rollout by Fall 2028
The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board has also given the superintendent flexibility to adjust school schedules over the next three years as the plan develops.
What Baton Rouge Parents Should Watch For
As the district continues evaluating the plan, families should keep an eye on:
- East Baton Rouge School Board updates
- Community meetings about school start times
- Transportation and bus route changes
- Announcements from individual schools
Changes to school start times could affect everything from morning drop-offs to after-school sports and activities, so it’s something many Baton Rouge families will want to follow closely.
See the full East Baton Rouge School Start Times Project report in this PDF