Schools Embrace Later Start Times, Saving Millions Annually

A recent study reveals that schools in the United States can successfully adopt later start times without incurring additional costs. Researchers affiliated with the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) demonstrated that using advanced analytics can facilitate healthier school schedules while improving operational efficiency.

The study, published in the journal Management Science, was conducted by Arthur Delarue of the University of Virginia, Zhen Lian of Yale University, and Sebastien Martin of Northwestern University. It focused on the SFUSD, which implemented a redesigned schedule in 2021. This new approach aligned school start times more closely with adolescent biological needs and significantly reduced transportation expenses by over $5 million annually.

“Too many high schools still start before teens’ brains are ready to learn,” said Delarue. He noted that the obstacles to change are often political rather than technical. The interactive optimization system developed by the researchers provided school leaders with the ability to tailor schedules to meet community needs while maintaining operational feasibility.

According to recommendations from major medical organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association, high schools should not start earlier than 8:30 a.m.. Research links early start times to insufficient sleep, decreased academic performance, and deteriorating mental and physical health among teenagers. Despite these recommendations, many districts hesitate to implement changes due to issues such as limited bus availability, staffing constraints, and family scheduling conflicts.

The study’s innovative model allowed district leaders to explore thousands of potential schedules, factoring in trade-offs and real-world constraints in real-time. Decision-makers could visualize how various choices impacted transportation costs and community preferences. “Instead of telling the district what the ‘optimal’ schedule was, we gave them the tools to explore what was possible,” Lian explained.

The resulting schedule received broad community support, although it was acknowledged that not every family could secure their preferred start time. In addition to the advantages of later start times, a survey involving nearly 28,000 elementary school families and staff indicated a majority approval of the changes. The new scheduling also enhanced bus operations, improved alignment among school schedules, and facilitated better coordination among staff across different sites.

The researchers assert that the framework they developed could be adopted by districts of any size, whether public or private. By involving administrators, transportation planners, teachers, and families early in the process, schools can create schedules that prioritize student well-being while simultaneously enhancing operational performance.

For further details, refer to the study by Delarue et al., titled “Algorithmic Precision and Human Decision: A Study of Interactive Optimization for School Schedules,” published in Management Science in 2025.