Pennsbury High School Reports Improved Attendance With New Start Time

Preliminary data compiled by the Pennsbury School District suggests that shifting high school start times later has led to a decrease in absences and tardiness during the first half of the 2025-2026 school year.

The statistics were compiled by Dr. Elizabeth Aldridge, the district’s director of data, assessment, and accountability, and show that high school absences dropped 13 percent year-over-year during the first 108 days of classes.

Additionally, tardiness saw an even more significant decline of 24 percent, falling from 19,000 recorded incidents in the previous year to 14,000 under the new schedule.

The high school shifted its start time this school year from 7:20 a.m. to 8:15 a.m.

“One of the things we were finding with the earlier start times is a number of tardies,” Superintendent Dr. Thomas Smith said.

Nivrithi Kanubaddi, a Pennsbury High School student, told the school board recently that the extra time provides her with more “clarity” during her commute and in the classroom.

The high school said her peers appear more prepared for learning, particularly during first period.

“There is definitely a benefit to the later start times,” Kanubaddi said.

The district also reported a 16 percent decline in early dismissals for non-activity reasons and a 19 percent drop in health room visits for illness. Students being sent home sick decreased by 10 percent.

While academic performance remained steady — with first-semester final grades showing no significant changes — certain metrics improved. Winter algebra Keystone scores rose 22 percent, and pre-SAT participation among 10th graders increased by 16 percent.

In the district’s effort to accommodate the high school start time shift, the district moved middle school start times up to 7:35 a.m., approximately 30 minutes earlier than in previous years.

After the change, middle school absences rose 4 percent and tardiness increased by 28 percent.

Health room visits for illness and injury decreased at the middle school since the change.

The district’s elementary schools maintained their 9 a.m. start times under the change.

Smith credited the district’s transportation department for navigating changes and getting students to school on time.

The superintendent said there have been conflicts with after-school athletics, but the district now offers online options for fourth-period courses to mitigate problems.

The district’s move came after recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics, which suggests high schools start no earlier than 8:30 a.m. to combat chronic sleep loss.

Dr. Judith Owens, author of the academy’s policy statement, has called adolescent sleep deprivation “one of the most common—and easily fixable—public health issues in the U.S. today,” according to a National Education Association publication.

With the changes, some parents have expressed concerns regarding out-of-school schedules and whether students will be prepared for the earlier start times of future careers.

Dr. Joseph A. Buckhalt, a professor emeritus at Auburn University, wrote in Psychology Today last year that while later starts offer health benefits, socioeconomic factors such as parent work schedules and long commutes can impact how much students truly benefit.

Pennsbury had looked at start time changes since 2018.

A 2021 survey showed strong support for the change at the high school.

District officials plan to collect more data and conduct another survey before the school year ends to compare year-over-year results.

Smith said there are no immediate plans to return to the former schedule.

“At this point, I don’t think there’s any significant impetus to move or revert,” Smith said. “I think we’re looking at least another year of data before we make any other evaluations.”