Dobbs Ferry School District Approves New School Start Time

Dobbs Ferry’s middle and high schools will begin a bit later in the day next year, under a recent decision by the Board of Education.

According to Superintendent Dr. Lisa Brady, students will begin classes at 8:12 a.m. and finish school at 3:20 p.m. The move will take effect in September at the start of the new school year.

“Recently, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released a report calling for later school start times for adolescents, stating that ’a too-early start to the school day is a critical contributor to chronic sleep deprivation among American adolescents,’” Brady wrote in a letter to parents. “The report also states that ’studies show that adolescents who don’t get enough sleep often suffer physical and mental health problems…and a decline in academic performance.’”

The issue of changing the start time was studied by a district task force that made the recommendation to the board, which endorsed the move with a vote last month.

Click here to view the bell schedules for the two schools.