For years, students in the Palm Beach School District—one of the largest in the nation—have followed the same school start times. However, a big change is on the way. Beginning in July 2026, prior to the 2026-2027 school year, students and parents might have to adjust their schedules as the district implements a shift in school start times.

Florida House Bill 733 (also referred to as HB 733) has recently been passed, which requires all middle and high schools within the Palm Beach School District to adopt different start times, specifically after 8:00 a.m. The Palm Beach Post writes in their 2024 article, “Palm Beach County Schools Need to Start Later by 2026…,” that the American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends that teenagers get eight to 10 hours of sleep per night for proper development. The law has been put in place to presumably support students, as sleep deprivation can lead to a decrease in students’ overall well-being and have a negative effect on academic performance. However, this may not be the case for all students since a later start time consequently means a later end time, potentially causing students to stay up much later. 

Currently, Palm Beach District high schools begin at 7:30 a.m. and end at 2:45 p.m., providing students with ample time after school to participate in extracurriculars, such as clubs and sports, while still keeping up with academic responsibilities. This current schedule is suitable for many students, as it allows them to maintain a balance between academics and after school commitments. On the other hand, pushing high schools to begin at approximately 9:30 a.m. would cause students to end the school day around 4 p.m., which significantly cuts into their time for personal commitments. Asha Mahelis, a sophomore on the tennis team at Olympic Heights High School, explains that practice currently ends at 4:00 p.m, allowing plenty of time to complete homework and spend time with her family; matches end much later: 7:00 pm. Once HB 733 is in full effect, Mahelis’ practice will end around 5:00 p.m, with matches possibly ending at eight or later.  This could make it more difficult for her and other students to manage their time effectively and complete all obligations, while still getting to sleep at a reasonable hour. 

To combat this displacement of students’ schedules, the district plans to move major sporting events to different days and install more lights to brighten up the fields. Rescheduling sporting events and notifying students further in advance allows students to arrange their schedules around these events and lets them continue partaking in leisure activities, all while still keeping up with their responsibilities. This way, students can still have fun and get the “high school experience” without compromising their academic performance. 

While middle schools currently begin at 9:30 a.m., their start times will also be impacted due to the predetermined transportation system. The buses within the Palm Beach School District follow what is referred to as “tiered routes,” meaning that most buses are responsible for transporting students of all school levels. They follow a strict schedule to ensure that all students, regardless of grade, have adequate and convenient transportation and arrive at school on time. According to palmbeachschools.org, having school buses follow sequential routes that consist of all three grade configurations is the most efficient way to organize the bus routes, and to do otherwise would require more buses and drivers. 

Not everyone supports this change in school start times.  State Sen. Jennifer Bradley, R-Fleming Island, introduced a bill on Jan. 17 to reverse the 2023 law that requires early start times beginning in the 2026-27 school year.

To share any input or concerns you might have, go to findmyschool.info and contact a Florida State Senator, U.S. Congress Representative, or Florida House Representative.

Tell us Torch readers, do you support this change in the school start time?