Parenting
By: Jamie Foster
Date: April 16, 2021
Do high schools really need to begin before 8:30 a.m.? A recent study suggests that they do not — particularly when it comes to teenagers.
Waking up early is not favored by most teens, and convincing them to leave for school at dawn can often seem like an uphill battle. Thus, it’s no surprise that starting school at 8:30 a.m. or later is not only the most effective way to ensure they arrive on time, but multiple studies have also indicated that later start times are beneficial for students’ mental and physical well-being. A new study further substantiates this claim.
Published in Sleep journal, researchers surveyed nearly 28,000 students from a varied Colorado school district that delayed its start times. This adjustment aimed to provide students, particularly pre-teens and teens, with an opportunity for more restful slumber — and after two years, the results were positive.
While the percentage of elementary school students reporting sufficient sleep duration, poor sleep quality, or daytime sleepiness remained unchanged, middle and high school students showed significant improvement in sleep duration and a noticeable decrease in daytime sleepiness.
Specifically, the study revealed that postponing school start times led to an increase in sleep of approximately 45 minutes for students. Elementary students began school an hour earlier, allowing older students to be picked up later, according to Dr. Sarah Collins, a pediatric psychologist at Colorado Health Systems, as reported by CNN. Middle schools delayed their start times by 40 to 60 minutes, while high schools pushed theirs back by 70 minutes, resulting in start times of 8:30 a.m. or later.
“Adjusting start times for middle and high schools is a crucial public health measure that can swiftly and effectively alleviate adolescent sleep deprivation with minimal impact on younger students,” Dr. Collins states.
Middle school students went to bed roughly nine minutes later and enjoyed an additional 37 minutes of sleep, totaling around 29 extra minutes. High school students, on the other hand, went to bed about 14 minutes later and gained an hour more of sleep, averaging an extra 46 minutes per day and about four additional hours each week.
Overall, Dr. Mark Thompson, an associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Illinois, tells CNN that these adjustments align better with teens’ natural biological rhythms. Insufficient sleep can adversely affect memory, learning capacity, and overall mental and physical health.
The CDC has long supported delaying 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 at 8:30 a.m. or later.
“Insufficient sleep is prevalent among high school students and is linked to numerous health risks, including obesity, substance use, and poor academic performance,” the CDC emphasizes.
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In summary, a new study highlights the negative impact of early school start times on teens, emphasizing the need for schools to begin later in the morning. This adjustment could significantly enhance students’ sleep quality and overall health, while the CDC supports these findings.
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