High school is a tough place where hundreds of young adults ages 14-18 roam the hallways for seven hours a day, their emotions and insecurities running rampant. And then there’s that whole show-up-to-class, do-your-homework and pass thing to deal with.

When the North Kitsap School District begins their Professional Learning Communities this fall, things will be a bit more complicated.

The PLCs will mean later start times three days a week at North Kitsap High and two days a week at Kingston High. The later start times will allow for teacher collaboration and give struggling students extra instructional time. On the flip side, it also will take away instruction time from the at-large student population.

High school is a time when the fortunate few find their paths in life. They discover who they are, where they’re going and how they’re going to get there. They go forth and conquer, and let nothing stand in their way. These are the kids who turn their work in on time, study and pass their courses through hard work and dedication.

These are the students who will be able to use the later start days to sleep in, get in an early workout or meet up at a local coffeehouse to chat.

Then there are those who struggle. Oftentimes, they also turn in their work on time and study hard, but the passing grades just won’t come. These are the students who will have to show up on time during the later start days to receive additional instruction.

We’re all for helping students pass — and keeping them in school until graduation, for that matter — the PLC schedule will do a great job of outing these struggling students.

While we understand the administrators’ view that these children should receive additional instruction, we also understand the stigma that comes along with being a struggling student. They have enough to worry about without being singled out.