Do schools really need to commence classes before 8:30 a.m.? A recent study suggests not, particularly for high school students.
Teenagers often struggle with early mornings, making it a daunting task for parents to get them out the door for school at such an early hour. Fortunately, evidence is mounting that starting school later—specifically at 8:30 a.m. or later—not only helps ensure students arrive on time, but also significantly benefits their physical and mental well-being. A new study bolsters this claim.
Published in the Sleep journal, the research involved surveying approximately 28,000 students across a diverse Colorado school district that delayed its start times. The shift aimed to provide students, especially pre-teens and teens, with more sleep. After two years of this change, the results were promising.
While elementary school students reported no changes in sleep duration or quality, there was a notable improvement among middle and high school students. The percentage of those getting adequate sleep rose significantly, and reports of excessive daytime drowsiness declined.
Specifically, the study revealed that later start times allowed students to gain an average of 45 minutes more sleep. Elementary students began classes an hour earlier, which permitted older students to be picked up later. Middle schools delayed start times by 40 to 60 minutes, while high schools pushed back their schedules by 70 minutes, beginning at or after 8:30 a.m.
“Adjusting the start times for middle and high schools is an essential health policy that can quickly reduce adolescent sleep deprivation with minimal disruption to younger students,” states Dr. Emily Carter, a pediatric psychologist associated with the study. Middle schoolers went to bed about nine minutes later and enjoyed an additional 37 minutes of sleep, while high schoolers went to bed 14 minutes later and gained an extra hour, translating to an average increase of 46 minutes of sleep and approximately four more hours per week.
Dr. Martin Rivers, an associate professor at the University of Pittsburgh, explains that these later start times align better with teenagers’ biological clocks. Insufficient sleep can adversely affect memory, learning capabilities, and overall mental and physical health.
The CDC has long supported the movement towards later school start times, noting that “schools start too early.” Currently, fewer than 21% of middle schools and less than 18% of high schools in the U.S. begin at 8:30 a.m. or later. The CDC emphasizes that lack of sleep is prevalent among high schoolers and is associated with various health risks, including obesity, substance use, and poor academic performance.
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In summary, a recent study highlights the negative effects of early school start times on teenagers, advocating for later schedules to improve their sleep, health, and academic performance.