All Carrollton City Schools will have new start/dismissal times for the 2012-2013 school year. The new schedule is as follows:

Carrollton Elementary – 8:10 / 3:25
Carrollton Middle School – 8:10 / 3:25
Carrollton Junior High – 7:45 / 2:55
Carrollton High School – 7:45 / 2:36

The changes in school daily schedules have basically flip-flopped, with Carrollton High School and Carrollton Junior High starting earlier and ending earlier each day and Carrollton Elementary and Carrollton Middle School starting and ending later. These changes also added about an hour of instructional time at CES and CMS, satisfying a perennial request of teachers and administrators at both schools.

The schedule changes will positively impact academics at CJHS and CHS as well, as earlier ending of the school day substantially reduces the number of times students have to be released early from school to participate in extracurricular activities, thereby increasing instructional time for students involved in band, performing arts, debate, robotics, JROTC, athletics and other school-sponsored events. The schedules also allow for afterschool remediation before extracurricular activities begin.

Though many schedule options were discussed, the outcome hinged on one factor and one factor alone – what was best for students.

“In the end, the decisions weren’t difficult to make,” said Dr. Kent Edwards, superintendent. “The new schedule is instructionally driven and will support student performance the most.”