Charleston County
School District
Start Time Project
D9, D10, and D23 School Start Time Project
Summary
Charleston County School District (CCSD) is aligning school start times in the Johns Island, West Ashley, and St. Paul's areas with the rest of the county and the state, beginning in the 2026–2027 school year.
This decision follows careful planning, extensive community feedback, and a review of national best practices that support student health, safety, and academic success. No changes will occur during the 2025–2026 school year.
Announcing this transition early provides ample time for families, staff, and community partners to prepare and ensure the necessary supports—such as transportation adjustments, after-school care options, and traffic flow improvements—are in place before the new schedules begin in August 2026.
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Project Overview
The CCSD School Start Time Project was established to review and align start times in Districts 9, 10, and 23 with research-based best practices that promote:
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Improved student sleep and well-being
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Greater alignment across grade levels and communities
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Better support for family logistics and community routines
In 2024, a district Working Group was formed to examine national studies, consult local stakeholders, and evaluate the practical impacts of start time changes, including transportation, childcare, extracurricular activities, and community safety.
This literature review explores the impact of sleep on student outcomes, especially in adolescents, emphasizing how biological changes during puberty delay sleep cycles, leading to chronic sleep deprivation when schools start early. Studies indicate that later start times enhance sleep quality, mental health, academic performance, and overall well-being while also reducing absenteeism and car accidents.
Additionally, the review addresses practical challenges such as childcare, transportation, and after-school activities, offering valuable insights for districts looking to implement effective transitions to later start times. Please click to view a summary of the School Start Times Review.
At the Board of Trustees Meeting on November 11, 2024, Executive Director for Career and Technical Education presented an update for the project. Please click the link to watch the video (timestamp of 1:37:40 to 2:10:30).
Surveys, listening sessions, and a Facebook Live event invited parents, students, employees, and community members to share input. More than 5,700 responses were received across the three districts, helping shape the final recommendation to the Board of Trustees.
What’s Next
The district has been providing regular updates to families, reminding them of this change and including school-specific details and transportation guidance.
Additionally, transportation routes have been redesigned to align with the updated bell schedule. The district has also expanded after-school bus options to support students participating in athletics, extracurricular activities, and aftercare programs.
Expanded Learning Kaleidoscope options will be accessible through the online portal, based on your school location on April 15. Please log in to view the available times for before- and after-school care for your students. If you have not yet completed the Kaleidoscope Family Needs Survey, we strongly encourage you to do so as soon as possible to help us finalize staffing and program availability.
We are also continuing to coordinate with transportation partners to review traffic patterns and support safe and efficient arrival and dismissal at each campus.
LINK: Start Time Overview .PDF
If you have questions, please contact: StartTimes@charleston.k12.sc.us
*Updated 4/23/25