Starting next school year, Onslow County Schools at each level will start and end classes at the same time.
In general, officials say the district’s elementary schools will begin at 8:30 a.m. and end at 3:30 p.m. OCS middle schools will begin at 7:30 a.m. with bus dismissal at 2:40 p.m., and the district’s high schools will begin at 7 a.m. with bus dismissal at 2:10 p.m.
With nearly 70 bus driver vacancies, district transportation staff say the change will allow them to maximize the efficiency of bus routes and available drivers, resulting in less wait time for students.
Officials say staggered start times across grade spans will also help ease traffic congestion at schools located near each other which currently have similar arrival and dismissal times.
