Elementary schools in Greenville County could be starting + ending fifteen minutes earlier next year. Instead of starting at 8 a.m. and letting out at 2:30 p.m. like they currently do, school would run from 7:45 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.
Why the change?
The argument is that students who ride the bus to school are sometimes missing out on instructional time because of late bus arrivals. Especially high schoolers, who get dropped off last because Greenville County high schools start the latest.
By starting the elementary schools earlier, the idea is that the extra fifteen minutes will give bus drivers enough time to beat any traffic + get middle and high schoolers to school on time.
There are a handful of other South Carolina school districts that have elementary school start times before 8 a.m.
On March 10, the school board will consider the time change during their scheduled meeting. We’ll be sure to update you if the shift goes into effect.
