New Research Indicates Early School Start Times Are Detrimental to Teenagers

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Do schools really need to begin before 8:30 a.m.? A recent study suggests they do not—particularly for high school students. Getting teens out of bed early can be a formidable challenge, making it unsurprising that later start times not only help ensure punctuality but also significantly benefit their physical and mental well-being. This notion is reinforced by a new study published in the journal Sleep.

The study involved a survey of approximately 28,000 students from a diverse Colorado school district that delayed its start times. The initiative aimed to provide students, especially those in middle and high school, with more sleep. After two years, the results were promising: while elementary students reported no change in sleep patterns, middle and high school students saw a notable improvement in sleep duration and a decrease in daytime sleepiness.

In detail, the shift to later school start times allowed for an average increase in sleep of about 45 minutes for older students. Elementary students began their day an hour earlier, which made it possible for older students to be dropped off later. According to pediatric psychologist Dr. Emily Johnson, “Shifting middle and high school start times is a crucial health strategy that can effectively address adolescent sleep deprivation without impacting younger students significantly.”

The study noted that middle schoolers went to bed nine minutes later but gained an additional 37 minutes of sleep, totaling an average of 29 extra minutes of rest. High schoolers, on the other hand, went to bed around 14 minutes later but enjoyed an extra hour of sleep, resulting in about 46 more minutes of sleep on average each night—equating to an additional four hours of sleep weekly.

Brandon Smith, an associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh, explained that these changes align better with teens’ natural circadian rhythms. Insufficient sleep can adversely affect students’ memory, learning capacity, and overall health. The CDC supports later start times, stating that “schools start too early” and highlighting that fewer than 21% of middle schools and less than 18% of high schools in the U.S. begin their day at 8:30 a.m. or later.

Not getting adequate sleep is a common issue among high school students and is linked to various health risks, including obesity, substance abuse, and poor academic performance, according to the CDC.

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In summary, the research highlights the importance of later school start times for adolescents, emphasizing improvements in sleep duration and overall health.


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