With the current start times for Highland Park High School, students who take a music elective begin their school day at 7:48 AM with A Period. For other students, the day starts at 8:41 with the first block. However, the 2023-2024 school year marks a shift in the school’s start and end times. A Period will begin at 8:10 AM, and the first block will start at 9:02 AM. Classes will end at 3:00 PM. This later start means that many students will have more time to sleep and get ready before school starts.
According to Mr. Lassiter, research over the years has shown that teenagers require more sleep. This, coupled with the fact that the state of New Jersey has been pushing for later start times in high schools, led to an initial schedule change in 2017-18. “Highland Park High School created the staggered start to address this need for a later start time for most students with an early starting period for electives and the music program in 2017-18.” This “early starting period” is the A Period that Highland Park High School still has. Starting next year, the schedule will change again, leading to later arrival and dismissal times for all students.