Do schools truly need to commence classes before 8:30 a.m.? A new study suggests the answer is no, particularly for high school students.
Teenagers often struggle with early mornings, and getting them to school at such an early hour can be a daunting challenge. Therefore, it’s not surprising that starting school at 8:30 a.m. or later not only ensures they arrive on time but also significantly benefits their physical and mental health. A recent study bolsters this notion.
Published in the journal Sleep, the research surveyed approximately 28,000 students from a diverse school district in Colorado that postponed its school start times. The initiative aimed to provide students, especially pre-teens and teenagers, with more opportunities for rest. After two years of implementing the new schedule, the results were promising.
While elementary students did not experience significant changes in sleep patterns, the percentage of middle and high school students reporting adequate sleep duration increased significantly, and clinically significant daytime sleepiness decreased. The study revealed that later start times allowed students to gain an average of 45 minutes more sleep.
Elementary school students began their days an hour earlier, which enabled older students to be picked up later, according to Dr. Emily Rivers, a pediatric psychologist at Colorado Children’s Hospital. Middle schools adjusted their start times by 40 to 60 minutes, while high schools began classes 70 minutes later, starting at or after 8:30 a.m.
“Adjusting start times for middle and high schools is a vital health policy that can swiftly and effectively alleviate adolescent sleep deprivation without greatly affecting younger students,” Dr. Rivers explains.
Middle schoolers went to bed about nine minutes later than usual and enjoyed an additional 37 minutes of sleep, which translates to an average increase of 29 minutes of sleep overall. High school students went to bed 14 minutes later, slept an hour longer, and averaged 46 more minutes of sleep per night—resulting in about four additional hours of sleep each week.
Brandon Smith, associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh, notes that this change better aligns with teenagers’ biological clocks. Inadequate sleep can hinder memory, learning, and overall health. The CDC also supports later school start times, stating that “schools start too early.” Currently, fewer than 21 percent of middle schools and under 18 percent of high schools in the U.S. start at 8:30 a.m. or later.
Lack of sleep among high school students is common and linked to various health risks, including obesity, substance abuse, and poor academic performance, according to the CDC.
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In summary, the latest findings advocate for later school start times as a means to enhance sleep duration and overall well-being among teenagers. Adjusting school schedules not only promotes better health but aligns more closely with the natural sleep patterns of adolescents.