New School Start Times Announced for Lee County

As Florida prepares to implement a statewide mandate in 2026 that changes when students must arrive at school, Lee County is stepping ahead of the curve by overhauling its start times this fall—and the move is already stirring strong reactions among local parents.

Starting in August, the Lee County School District will introduce a new three-tier system as part of its Safe Start initiative. The goal? Improve transportation efficiency and student safety by reducing long waits for buses and cutting down on traffic congestion around schools. But for working families, the shift is creating a logistical headache.

New School Start Times for 2024-25 in Lee County:

• High Schools: 7:00 a.m.

• K-8, Skyline Elementary, and Hector A. Cafferata Jr. Elementary: 7:30 a.m.

• All Other Elementary Schools: 8:40 a.m.

• Middle Schools: 9:45 a.m.

While this change reduces the number of school start times from four to three, many parents are finding it hard to balance these new schedules with their professional responsibilities.

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“I’ll have to adjust my work hours,” said Lindsay Mahlum, a mother of two. Her kids are currently on summer break, but she’s already doing the math for the upcoming school year. “Right now, I put the kids on the bus around 7. That gives me time to get ready, deal with traffic, and still get them to school by 8. But now? It’s going to be tight.”

Elliana Torres, another Lee County parent, shares similar concerns. “Our jobs start at 7 a.m., so figuring out how to get the kids to school at 8:40 is a real problem. We live just two miles from the school, but because of that, we don’t qualify for district transportation. It’s frustrating, especially after we’d just adjusted to the old schedule.”

Why the Change?

The district says the new staggered start times are designed with safety and efficiency in mind. Fewer start times mean fewer overlapping bus routes, shorter wait times, and a safer experience for students who previously stood outside in the dark during early morning pickups.

But these logistical improvements come at a cost for parents who now have to consider childcare options, rearranged commutes, and, in some cases, even changes in employment.

A Glimpse at the Bigger Picture

This transition is not isolated to Lee County. It’s part of a broader shift taking place across Florida after a state law was passed in 2023 requiring that, by 2026, middle schools may not start before 8 a.m., and high schools must begin no earlier than 8:30 a.m. The law was passed in response to growing evidence that teenagers benefit from later start times for both mental and physical health.

Ironically, Lee County’s current adjustments still see high schools starting at 7:00 a.m.—which will eventually have to change again to meet the 2026 state deadline. District officials say they’re aware of the upcoming requirement and will continue evaluating how to best implement the state mandate while keeping families in the loop.

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What’s Next?

The Lee County School District plans to monitor the new system once the school year begins and make necessary adjustments based on community feedback. Meanwhile, many parents are left juggling new routines and waiting for more clarity about future changes.

“I get the intent,” Mahlum said. “But right now, it feels like families are the ones being left to figure it out on their own.”

As Florida continues its push for later school start times in the name of student wellness, districts like Lee County are navigating the complex intersection of policy, practicality, and parental reality.

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