I don't think that is a factor tbh. Back when schools start times were set 2 factors were mainly considered:

1. Being light enough out for it to be safe for kids to wait outside for the bus or walk to school. That time is earlier here in MA than in most parts of the country. Older kids could reasonably be expected to be safer with less light so they started school first. This is also a big reason why many parents and school employee oppose permanent daylight savings time, it would mean much darker mornings in the winter.
2. Sun rising earlier also means it sets earlier. In order to ensure safe travel after school and accommodate after-school actives, school had to end relatively early. Kids walking home in the dark is dangerous. And many schools don't have lights for all of their sports fields so practice and games have to be before sunset.

If I had pulled up to his window I would have said "oh they couldn't come up with the money for Matt huh?"

You think you have the leverage against a huge company? It might not feel like begging, but it basically is. And even if you're high enough that it's not begging, have some care for the vast majority of non-union workers getting screwed.

Strongly considering Northampton. The main reason we're leaning towards Haverhill is because it's on the Downeaster line and we would use that very often for day trips and traveling. If it's 4+ hours to get to Portland, we probably won't go very much. But it sounds like Northampton has a lot going for it. I'm going to look more into what's near there. Thanks!

The ratchet effect.

I'll look into Greenfield, it looks like it checks a lot of boxes. Thanks!

Take sports out of schools and then it would be easier to facilitate a later start. But you know that will never happen.

I haven't looked into Lowell yet, it looks great though! I'll look more into that and Salem, although we're looking to stay away from excessive crowds, I'm not sure how bad Salem is in that regard. Thanks!

That's good to know! This one is near the top of our list for sure because of the affordable houses and the Downeaster line. Do you consider the city safe for things like walking at night?

That’s the start time for all schools, not high schools. The public high school data is here and shows Massachusetts is indeed second earliest at 7:38am.

Limited number of buses are staggered for HS/MS/ES. Starting all schools at the same time would cost more in busing. (Reordering is a partial solution.)

HS students/parents want students out of school in time for after-school jobs and activities.

I love Northampton as a city but it definitely isn't as convenient to the eastern part of the states where jobs are.

I currently live in Haverhill and have for about four years and I love it. A lot of my peers are moving to Haverhill because it's one of the most affordable communities in the area. House prices are on the rise though, and the city is definitely still a bit "up and coming" so who knows where prices will be in two years. Restaurants downtown are amazing and there are plenty of parks and stuff in the area to walk around etc. Let me know if you have any questions!

I mean I'm not a fan of the republican party as a whole and their extreme social hottakes they have had, but just as a one off, I thought Baker was pretty good while we had him

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South coast technically doesn't even reach Taunton. South shore is strictly for towns within Massachusetts bay. Hockomock gets close but is a bit east of I-95. Blackstone is also close but that's a bit west. I'd say that those towns are more closely integrated with Hockomock if anything due to the I-95/495 connection. Taunton is squarely Hockomock and it even shares a transit system with Attleboro.

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The high school I went to started at 7:22am and it's in Massachusetts

Lots more freezing and thawing up here, especially closer to the water.

>Pushing against these rights directly led to the toxic chemical spill in Ohio.

This isn't true and there's no evidence.

I know I'm going to be downvoted to oblivion, but if any of you can give me any evidence, I'm willing to be proven wrong.

All my memories of that time are abject and complete darkness, frigid cold, shivering while dozing off. Total misery. Waiting for a bus to take me an hour away.

I was blessed to have a "progressive" high school that recognized the issue and mercifully started at 8:30 instead of 7:20.

They can say it's "for the parents" but my folks also did not want to get woken up at 6am regardless as breakfast was made and to drive me down into the center of town where the communal bus stop was.

To bad the governor doesn’t support it. Should of never voted her in

T J Maxx has nice affordable clothes.

Unfortunately fhey are usually too involved in enforcing arbitrary rules mandated by DESE to really examine whats best for students. We have great school systems because we have more affluent communities and a culture that values education, not because we necessarily are doing anything much better policy wise.

but teenagers are hardwired to want to stay up until 2 am and then sleep in until ~10. it wasn’t your fault you did that. maybe if you had more discipline, yes, but you would be fighting nature.

Swim practice for me started at 6:00 a.m. in Pennsylvania. Luckily the pool and high school were in different buildings. Because the walks from practice to school and school to practice were the only times I saw the Sun in the winter.