Fewer than 30% of teens get the recommended amount of sleep, leading many to believe that it’s time for a wake up call. Early school start times along with packed schedules are hindering students’ ability to get a good night’s rest. School should start an hour later to allow for students to get enough sleep, allow them to be more alert in class and benefit their health overall.
Although teenagers need more sleep than the average adult, they often get far less. According to the National Sleep Foundation, teens typically need “between 8-10 hours of sleep…sometimes even 11.” However, fewer than two out of 10 actually get this recommended amount. With sports, school work, and after school activities, teens are busier than ever. An extra hour of sleep would help relieve this stress and benefit student’s health.
Many administrators may be wary to change school start time due to a loss of class instruction. However, this issue can be easily resolved by adding time at the end of the day. Although not ideal, school that starts earlier and ends later will be more beneficial to students’ health.
According to the American Psychological Association, districts that have made the switch “haven’t been found to significantly interfere with teens participating in extracurricular activities or holding after-school jobs.” The benefits of later start times far outweigh the drawbacks.
An extra hour of sleep will benefit students by allowing them to be more alert in class and helping them achieve higher grades. An NPR study looked at a Seattle school that pushed back start times an hour. The results were significant, with final grades in one class being “4.5 percent higher than students who took the class when it started earlier.”
It’s clear to see the positive impact an extra hour of sleep has on students.
Not only are grades affected by more sleep, but overall health can improve as well. According to the American Psychological Association, students in schools starting from 8:30 to 9:00 had “longer sleep duration, less negative mood, and better developmental outcomes including socioemotional health, cognitive development, behavioral health, and physical health.”
Sleep is crucial to maintaining health, especially for developing teenagers. The CDC says that it can “reduce stress, improve heart health, and lower the risk of chronic conditions.” Allowing teens to get more sleep will significantly benefit their overall health and wellbeing.
No matter what, teens will most likely continue staying up later than they should. However, schools can do their part to make sure students are well rested. As research continues to prove the importance of sleep for teens, many school districts are getting on board with later start times. Schools everywhere should wake up to the facts and take action to prioritize student’s health and sleep by starting later.
