Indianapolis Public Schools begin year with fewer high schools, new start times

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — There are some big changes at Indianapolis Public Schools this fall, including reorganization of high schools and new start times. 

Last year the district had seven high schools and a three-tier bell schedule. Now, they have four high schools and will be moving to a two-tier schedule.

IPS graduated its final class from Broad Ripple, Arlington and Northwest high schools just two months ago. Broad Ripple High School is now closed down. Arlington and Northwest are middle schools this fall. John Marshall Middle School closed.
    
As part of this reorganization in the district, high school students are no longer assigned to a school based on where they live. Instead, each school offers different college and career-related academies and students choose their school based on what interests them. 

School start times are also changing. The district is shifting from a three to a two-tier schedule. 
    
That means most middle and high schools will operate an early schedule starting at 7:20 a.m. and ending at 2:10 p.m. Most elementary schools will operate on the later schedule, which is 9:20 a.m. to 3:55 p.m. Shortridge High School will keep it’s current schedule of 9:15 a.m. to 4 p.m.
    
All 12 of the schools that were in the middle tier last year will move to that later tier, which is a 65-minute change.