Lee Schools Unveils Three-Tier Start Time Plan for 2025-26 School Year
Starting in 2025, Lee County schools will move from four tiers to three tiers for bus routes and school times. The big change impacts thousands of students across the district.
Under the new plan, high schools will run from 7:05 a.m. to 2:05 p.m. K-8 schools begin at 7:30 a.m., letting out at 2:20 p.m., while Skyline Elementary starts ten minutes later at 7:40 a.m.
“One of the challenges that I have given our team is to think differently… Take the challenge head on and be bold, brave, and courageous on behalf of student learning and safety,” said Superintendent Dr. Denise Carlin to the Cape Coral Breeze.
The second tier includes elementary schools with special programs, going from 8:30 a.m. to 3:10 p.m. Middle schools take up the third slot alongside Buckingham, Royal Palm, and Success Academy from 9:30 a.m. until 4:20 p.m.
The current system has trouble with timeliness. Buses arrive on time only 82.75% of mornings and just 59.5% of afternoons. A lack of 67 drivers each morning adds to the problem.
Safety, Security and Fleet Operations Chief David Newlan told the Cape Coral Breeze, “Parents have a very regiment schedule and any deviation to that creates a hardship to the family.”
The first tier will require 466 bus routes. Officials believe this change will reduce late arrivals and increase learning time for students.
Board member Vanessa Chaviano supports the extra instruction time: “I am all for adding more time for elementary… Anything we can do to add more student minutes, I am all for, and teachers have more time to have a lunch… they would appreciate that.”
These changes are part of larger updates, including new policies for student registration and conduct. The district aims to improve both safety and educational outcomes.
Additional Sources:
https://www.capecoralbreeze.com
