The Cost of School Start Times in the United States
By Pranav Kadam
Across the United States, millions of middle and high school students begin their school day before 8:00 a.m. While early start times have long been recognized as a necessity, growing research suggests that they may be harming students more than helping them. The issue of school start times is often overlooked in national education debates, yet it has serious implications for student health, academic performance, and educational equity.
The Science of Adolescent Sleep
During adolescence, there is a change in the circadian rhythms of the teenager, which allows them to stay up later in the evening and sleep later the next morning. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, the recommended sleep for an adolescent is between 8 to 10 hours each night. Nevertheless, research indicates that the average sleep for most American high schoolers each evening is fewer than 7 hours.
Academic Consequences of Sleep Deprivation
Lack of sleep impacts cognitive skills like focus, retention, and problem-solving directly. Studies conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed that students not getting enough sleep have the propensity to get lower marks and struggle with standardized test scores. Delayed school schedules have recorded positive results regarding test scores, interactive participation, and academic performance, establishing an evident connection with schooling and sleep.
Mental Health and Physical Well-Being
Poor or chronic sleep among adolescents is associated with higher instances of anxiety, depression, and mood disorders in those individuals. National surveys regarding health have pointed towards the crucial element that lack of sleep in adolescents raises their possibility of facing sadness and hopelessness in their lives. There is also substantial association with poor immune systems and the risk of accidents, such as falling asleep while driving, in adolescents.
Equity and Socioeconomic Disparities
Early school beginning times particularly impact students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Such students may have to face longer routes for transportation, shared accommodations, or even family obligations, further restricting their opportunities for sleeping. In contrast, students from more affluent backgrounds can make greater arrangements, such as private transportation or tutoring, to compensate for the consequences of sleep deprivation. In this manner, early school hours can create a gap between students and exacerbate disparities in achievement.
Evidence from Districts That Made the Change
Several school districts in the United States have experimented with later start times, and there are positive outcomes that have been reported by these districts. Attendance is higher, fewer students are late, and there are improvements in alertness among students. Furthermore, there are fewer instances of disciplinary problems, as well as improvements in graduation rates, which all contribute to why schools need later start times.