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Do high schools really need to begin classes before 8:30 a.m.? A recent study suggests that they do not, particularly for adolescents. Many teenagers struggle with early mornings, making it incredibly challenging to get them out the door for school at dawn. Therefore, it’s no surprise that starting school later, particularly at 8:30 a.m. or later, not only helps them arrive on time but also significantly benefits their physical and mental well-being. This new research adds even more weight to that argument.
Published in the journal Sleep, the study involved surveying approximately 28,000 students from a diverse school district in Colorado that adjusted its school start times. The aim was to provide students, especially those in middle and high school, with more opportunities for sleep. After implementing this change for two years, the results were promising.
While the percentage of elementary students reporting adequate sleep did not change, there was a notable increase in both middle and high school students reporting sufficient sleep, alongside a significant decrease in daytime sleepiness. Specifically, later start times allowed students to gain an average of 45 minutes more sleep each night.
Elementary students began school an hour earlier, enabling older students to be picked up later, as explained by Dr. Emma Riley, a pediatric psychologist at a local health facility. Middle schools pushed back start times by 40 to 60 minutes, and high schools delayed theirs by 70 minutes, allowing classes to start at or after 8:30 a.m.
“Adjusting the start times for middle and high schools is a vital health initiative that can effectively reduce sleep deprivation among teenagers with minimal disruption to younger students,” says Dr. Riley. Middle school students, for instance, went to bed about nine minutes later and gained an additional 37 minutes of sleep, totaling an average increase of 29 minutes. High school students, on the other hand, went to bed 14 minutes later and enjoyed an extra hour of sleep, equating to an overall increase of 46 minutes per night and an additional four hours weekly.
Brent Carter, an associate professor of psychology at a nearby university, emphasizes that these changes align better with teenagers’ natural circadian rhythms. Insufficient sleep can adversely affect their memory, learning capability, and overall health. The CDC has also supported later school start times, noting that “schools start too early.” Currently, less than 21% of middle schools and under 18% of high schools in the U.S. begin classes at 8:30 a.m. or later.
Lack of sleep is a prevalent issue among high school students and is linked to various health risks, including obesity, substance use, and poor academic performance, according to the CDC.
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Summary:
A recent study reveals that later school start times significantly benefit middle and high school students by increasing their sleep duration and improving their mental and physical health. The findings emphasize the importance of aligning school schedules with teens’ natural sleep patterns.
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New research, school start times, teenagers, sleep, mental health, physical health, CDC, education policy