Do schools truly need to commence before 8:30 a.m.? A recent study suggests not—especially for high school students. Teens often struggle with early mornings, making it a challenging task to get them ready for school at dawn. Therefore, it’s hardly surprising that starting school at 8:30 a.m. or later not only helps with timely arrivals but also significantly benefits their physical and mental health. A new study reinforces this notion.
Published in the journal Sleep, the research surveyed around 28,000 students from a diverse school district in Colorado that had delayed its school start times. The aim was to provide students, particularly tweens and teens, with more sleep. After two years of this change, results showed positive outcomes.
While the percentage of elementary school students experiencing sufficient sleep duration, poor sleep quality, or daytime sleepiness remained unchanged, middle and high school students reported a notable increase in adequate sleep duration, alongside a significant decrease in excessive daytime sleepiness. Specifically, the study revealed that later start times allowed students to gain approximately 45 additional minutes of sleep.
Elementary students began school an hour earlier, facilitating later pickups for older students, according to Dr. Samantha Reed, a pediatric psychologist at National Health in Colorado, as reported by CNN. Middle schools shifted their schedules by 40 to 60 minutes, while high schools started 70 minutes later, resulting in school commencing at or after 8:30 a.m.
“Adjusting start times for middle and high schools is a vital health policy that can quickly and effectively alleviate adolescent sleep deprivation without significantly affecting younger students,” Dr. Reed states. Middle school students went to bed about nine minutes later and enjoyed an additional 37 minutes of sleep, translating to an average of 29 extra minutes per night. High schoolers went to bed 14 minutes later, gained an hour of sleep, and averaged 46 more minutes of sleep nightly, totaling around four more hours of sleep per week.
Brandon Hill, an associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh, emphasizes that these changes align better with adolescents’ natural biological rhythms. Insufficient sleep can negatively impact memory, learning, and overall mental and physical well-being. The CDC has consistently supported the initiative to delay school start times, stating on their website that “schools start too early.” Currently, fewer than 21% of middle schools and under 18% of high schools in the U.S. begin classes at 8:30 a.m. or later.
“Insufficient sleep is prevalent among high school students and is linked to various health risks, including obesity, substance use, and poor academic performance,” the CDC warns.
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In summary, the latest research underscores the negative impact of early school start times on teenagers, advocating for a shift to later schedules that promote better sleep and overall health.