Do Schools Start Too Early?

For many high schoolers, not getting enough sleep is an unfortunate reality.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine says that teenagers need 8-10 hours of sleep each night for optimal health, but over 70% of high schoolers don’t abide by this, going to bed at odd hours of the night to finish schoolwork and then waking up early for class.

A major reason for this is the early start times that most high schools have, with those in most states starting in between 7:45 and 8:15 a.m. Contrary to this, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that high schools begin no earlier than 8:30 a.m., in order to allow students to get an adequate amount of sleep. This is because during puberty, teens experience a phenomenon called “phase delay”, in which they experience a later sleep onset and wake times. This can cause the body’s internal clock to shift backward by as much as two hours. As a result, the average teenager falls asleep at 11:00 p.m. and to get an optimal amount of sleep, would need to wake up at 7:00 a.m or later.

Because students don’t get enough sleep, their academic performance is negatively impacted, as students can have trouble paying attention in class and (as a consequence) lower grades. This, combined with a higher likelihood of athletic injury, depressive symptoms, and risk-taking behaviors such as alcohol or drug use, can have an extreme impact on students, who are already presented with numerous responsibilities.

However, implementing later start times can help students get enough sleep, resulting in improved grades, better attendance, and even reduced irritability and disciplinary problems.