District 303 announced changes to the start and end times of all its schools for the 2024-2025 school year on Jan. 8. Superintendent Dr. Paul Gordon stated in a district-wide message that these changes were made to accommodate a shorter elementary school day.
In the 2024-2025 school year, high school will start at 7:15 a.m. and end at 2:15 p.m. This means high school will be slightly shorter next school year, at seven hours instead of seven hours and nine minutes. Every Wednesday, high school will end at 1:17 p.m.
Early childhood education will be from 8:20 to 10:15 a.m. and 11:50 to 2:20 p.m. On the last Wednesday of every month, the times will be 8:20-10:25 a.m. and 11:25 a.m.-1:30 p. m.
Elementary school will last from 9:05 a.m. to 3:25 p.m., except on the last Wednesday of every month, when it will end at 2:35 p.m.
Instead of starting at 8:40 a.m., D303 middle schools will start at 7:50 a.m. and end at 2:50 p.m. Middle school will now have early release every Wednesday at 1:50 a.m.
Along with the announcement, the district released an FAQ on the schedule changes.
The district will be partnering with an organization to offer fee-for-service before and after school care to students in D303 elementary schools, and will provide further information in February.
