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Do educational institutions really need to commence classes before 8:30 a.m.? A recent study suggests they do not—especially when it comes to high schools.
Many teenagers dislike rising early, and getting them out the door for school at dawn can often feel like an uphill battle. Consequently, 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 several studies have also indicated that later start times significantly benefit students’ physical and mental well-being. A new study adds further evidence to this claim.
Published in the journal Sleep, researchers surveyed approximately 28,000 students within a diverse Colorado school district that delayed its school start times. The intention behind this change was to provide students, particularly pre-teens and teens, with more opportunities for rest. After two years of implementing these later start times, the results were promising.
“While the percentage of elementary students reporting adequate sleep duration, poor sleep quality, or daytime drowsiness remained unchanged, there was a significant increase in middle and high school students reporting sufficient sleep duration, coupled with a marked decrease in clinically significant daytime sleepiness,” the study noted.
More specifically, the research revealed that shifting school start times to later in the morning led to an average increase of about 45 minutes of sleep for students. Elementary students began school one hour earlier, allowing older students to be picked up later, according to Dr. Sarah Mitchell, a pediatric psychologist at a leading health institution in Colorado. Middle schools adjusted their start times by 40 to 60 minutes, while high schools delayed by 70 minutes, thus starting school at or after 8:30 a.m.
“Altering middle and high school start times is a vital health policy that can swiftly and effectively reduce adolescent sleep deprivation with minimal impact on younger students,” Dr. Mitchell emphasizes.
Middle school students went to bed roughly nine minutes later than usual and enjoyed an additional 37 minutes of sleep, averaging 29 minutes more per night. High school students, on the other hand, went to bed about 14 minutes later, slept for an extra hour, ultimately gaining 46 minutes more sleep on average, equating to about four extra hours weekly.
Overall, Dr. Mark Johnson, an associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Washington, points out that these changes align better with teens’ internal biological rhythms. Insufficient sleep can adversely affect memory, learning abilities, and both mental and physical health.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has also been advocating for later school start times, stating on their website that “schools start too early.” Currently, only about 21 percent of middle schools and 18 percent of high schools in the U.S. start at 8:30 a.m. or later.
“Insufficient sleep is common among high school students and is associated with several health risks, including obesity, substance abuse, and poor academic outcomes,” the CDC warns.
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Summary:
A recent study highlights the detrimental effects of early school start times on teenagers. Conducted in a Colorado school district, the research found that delaying start times resulted in significant increases in sleep duration for middle and high school students, positively impacting their overall health and well-being. The CDC supports these findings and advocates for later start times to combat adolescent sleep deprivation.