St. Paul Public Schools weigh options for late start

St. Paul Public Schools administrators are taking a serious look at starting high school later in the morning.

The school district has weighed nearly a dozen start-time scenarios and narrowed that down to two for further study and input.

The St. Paul Pioneer Press says recent research, including a University of Minnesota study, shows a later start improves attendance, grades and test scores for high school students and lowers incidents of depression.

Most high schools and middle schools in St. Paul start at 7:30 a.m. Elementary students arrive at 8:30 or 9:30 a.m.

Minneapolis and Edina schools were early participants in the later start times.

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