Length of school day in Chicagoland? (Wheaton, Crystal Lake: home, top schools, living)

[2033nr]

I know Chicago Public Schools recently extended the length of their school days for elementary schools, but in talking with friends and family living outside of IL, I'm finding that our suburban school districts in Chicagoland seem to have a shorter school day than other areas in the country. I researched this and I found that we ("we" meaning top notch chicagoland school districts) have on average a shorter school day by almost an hour and in many cases a shorter school year. For example, an elementary school bell schedule in a chicago burb might be 9:15a - 3:30p vs 8a-3p in other states.

I know this doesn't necessarily mean that our schools are "bad" or any worse because of this, I just find it interesting. Has anyone who has moved from another state to IL noticed this? Does it bother you? Thanks!

[myrc60]

In a Chicago suburb our lower grades started at 8:00 and dismissed at 2:45. High School would have been 8:00 to 2:55.

What we have in South Carolina is truly stupid, IMO. Lower grades in our district start at 8:00 and dismiss at 2:30. High school here is 8:45 to 3:45.

In Chicago little kids are on their own for 10 minutes while here in SC they have more than an hour before their older siblings can watch them.

[chet everett]

The start times in various districts are sometimes staggered so that the fleets os schools buses can do double duty /triple for elementary school, middle school and high school...

[myrc60]

Originally Posted by chet everett

The start times in various districts are sometimes staggered so that the fleets os schools buses can do double duty /triple for elementary school, middle school and high school...

Yes, that is true! Our buses in SC run all 3 levels each in a different trip! In suburbia Chicago high school had their own fleet and K-8 shared another. Some families need the older sibs to watch the young ones. Our schedule in SC makes no sense to me, whatever the reason!

[4122]

It really depends on the school. My elementary school used to be from 9-3:05, then they made the day longer by making it 8:45-3:20.

Here's an article I found about elementary school day lengths in chicagoland:
Top schools have longer days - Chicago Sun-Times

[Jenjen391]

High schools start later because teenagers need more sleep. Seriously.

[chet everett]

Originally Posted by Jenjen391

High schools start later because teenagers need more sleep. Seriously.

Around me I think the high school bus picks kids up at some unholy hour like 6:15AM... The routes are circuitous and apparently kids sleep for 30 minutes or so but it still is a bad idea... Then the same buses circle back for middle schools at like 7:45AM and then elementary schools (which are adjacent to middle school and thus have quicker turn around) for 8:15AM

[4122]

Originally Posted by Jenjen391

High schools start later because teenagers need more sleep. Seriously.

That's how it should be. High school typically starts earlier than elementary schools. My high school started at 8:10. However, there are high schools all around Chicagoland that start REALLY early. District 214 schools start at 7:30, Crystal Lake high schools and Cary-Grove start at 7:25, Wheaton high schools start at 7:20, and Plainfield high schools start at 7:05.

[glass_of_merlot]

My son starts school , 3rd grade, at 7:45 and goes home at 2:45. We live in the city.

[nana053]

High schools should start later because the teenage body clock needs it, but many high schools start early on the theory that the older high school kids have after school jobs and need to be out earlier.