Sleeping In, Showing Up: Students React to Later Start Times
Sleeping In, Showing Up: Students React to Later Start Times
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Rodas A. | Emily S.
March 4
2026
The alarms are set from 4 a.m. to 6 a.m this year, but the ‘alarming’ change will set them from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. | Photo by Pexels
The Clark County School District (CCSD) has released a new bell schedule that will affect the 2026-2027 school year. They are doing this as an effort to better support students’ learning and health. This decision was finalized after months of concerns and debates. As Clark County School District prepares to implement later start times next year, students are weighing how the change will affect their daily lives.
High school student Karmin Riff believes the shift brings both benefits and challenges. As a student-athlete who plays flag football and volleyball, her schedule is already busy. She worries that starting school later will push dismissal back an hour, making her evenings longer and more exhausting. Riff stated, “On game days, I already get home around 8 p.m., and the new schedule could keep me out until 9 p.m., leaving less time for homework, hobbies, and sleep.”
Riff is concerned that the later schedule may make it harder to stay focused in class if she feels more tired. She also believes that, “many students with after-school activities or jobs could struggle with the adjustment.”
However, she does see one major advantage: safety. With brighter mornings, she won’t have to ride her bike to school in the dark, which makes her feel safer. She also noted her mom could benefit by getting more sleep in the mornings. Overall, Riff remains skeptical, believing the change may create new challenges for busy students.
Karmin Riff
Photo taken by Rodas Alemayehu
Kennedy Nortey
Photo taken by Rodas Alemayehu
On the other hand, Kennedy Nortey, another student at South CTA, believes the change in school start times may not be as harmful as some students think. While opinions across South CTA remain divided, Nortey says she feels “a little neutral about it.”
“It has its pros and cons, and they kind of balance each other out or weigh each other out,” she explained.
Unlike students who worry that the shift will disrupt their routines, Nortey believes the impact may be manageable. Outside of school, she dedicates much of her time to community service and plays volleyball. Many students involved in extracurricular activities have expressed concern that a schedule change could interfere with practices, games, or after-school commitments. However, Nortey feels those effects may be minimal.
“Yeah, outside of school. I do things like community service things as well as some volleyball stuff,” she said.
If anything, she believes the biggest change would be to her sleep schedule. With a later start time, Nortey says she would finally have the opportunity to rest more consistently. “I would get to sleep in more often,” she added.
For Nortey, the benefits extend beyond just extra sleep. On some mornings before school, she stops at places like Tropical Smoothie Cafe or Starbucks to grab breakfast. With the new schedule, she believes she would have more flexibility in her routine.
“I could probably have more time to get ready and also a longer amount of time to reach those places,” she said.
While the debate over start times continues among students, parents, and staff, Nortey’s perspective highlights a middle ground. Rather than viewing the change as entirely positive or negative, she sees it as an adjustment — one that may require adaptation but could also bring small, meaningful benefits.
As South CTA prepares for the transition, student opinions are still mixed. For some, the change would become a disruption. For others, it represents opportunity — a chance for more rest, a smoother morning routine, and perhaps a better balance between school and life. Only time will tell how the new schedule truly affects students, but one thing is clear: every student’s experience will be different.
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