Des Moines Public Schools serves more than 32,000 students. Here are 7 facts about Iowa's largest school district. Wochit


Des Moines Public Schools is switching start times this school year. More than 33,000 students will be on a different schedule that last year.

Officials are asking motorists to be "extra careful" on the first day of school Thursday. The youngest students will be going to school first, and will be walking or waiting for the bus. 

What is changing? 

The district is on the following schedules this school year, meaning elementary students will start earlier and secondary students will start later:

  • Elementary schools: 7:30 a.m. to 2:25 p.m. 
  • Middle schools: 8:30 a.m. to 3:25 p.m.  
  • High schools: 8:25 a.m. to 3:25 p.m.  

Schools such as Cowles Montessori and Ruby Van Meter, which serve both elementary and middle school students, will be on the middle school time.

Why make the change?

The bell change is an effort to align school start times with teenage sleep rhythms.

Because of financial constraints related to busing, the elementary and secondary schools are essentially flipping their start times.

 A 2013 study found that starting school later helped more then 60 percent of teens get eight hours or more of sleep each night.

How will this help students?

Research shows that teens who start school later earn better grades and engage in less risky behaviors such as using drugs and alcohol.

One study showed that students who earned C's or below receive less sleep and go to bed at least 40 minutes later than A and B students.

In addition, sleep deprivation has been linked to concentrating difficulties, memory impairment, lack of enthusiasm and mentally "drifting off" in class.

Another found that crashes among teen drivers decreased by 70 percent when the bell time changed.

Are other districts doing this?

Ankeny and West Des Moines schools transitioned to later middle and high school start times at least a decade ago. Davenport and Iowa City made the change recently.

Across the nation, more than 300 districts in 44 states have switched secondary school start times to 8:30 a.m. or later.

How can I help my child be successful?

Health leaders suggest gradually adjusting your child's sleep to the time they'll need to wake up the first day of school. 

In addition, aim for getting up and going to bed at the same time, developing sleep rituals, and evaluating rooms to reduce noise and light.

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