Starting school later in the morning can significantly increase student success. This is due to a variety of factors including improved sleep patterns, better mental health, and enhanced academic performance.
Adolescents have different sleep needs compared to adults. Their biological clocks naturally shift, making it difficult for them to fall asleep early and wake up early.
According to data from A 2018 study, the final grades of students whose start times were delayed increased by 4.5 percent. This demonstrates that starting school later can significantly improve academic outcomes and while this is true, if school was pushed back, so are sports. They spend a large part of their day in school usually from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and often have extracurricular activities.
Students are getting home even later from sports resulting in the same amount of sleep. By starting school later, students can get the recommended amount of sleep, which is crucial for their cognitive functions and overall health.
Well-rested students are more attentive, have better memory retention, and are generally more capable of absorbing new information. Moreover, students often have packed schedules with extracurricular activities like sports, or clubs, leaving little time for other tasks.
After that, mental health plays a critical role in student success. Lack of sleep is closely linked to higher levels of stress, anxiety, and depression among teenagers.
By allowing students to sleep in, schools can help reduce these mental health issues. Students who are less stressed and anxious are more likely to participate in class, engage with their peers, and perform better academically.
According to The American Academy of Sleep Medicine, Psychotherapist Heather Turgeon, explains that teenagers face significant time management challenges due to being over scheduled. They spend a large part of their day in school usually from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and often have extracurricular activities.
For instance, sports practices can last for hours and extend later into the day, and when you add other clubs, activities, homework, and college preparation, teens end up extremely busy. Turgeon also notes that distractions from screens can make it harder for teens to work efficiently. Balancing these with schoolwork can be tough, leading to stress and less free time for relaxation and socializing. It’s important for students to manage their time well to avoid burnout.
Numerous studies have shown a direct correlation between later school start times and improved academic performance. Schools that have implemented later start times have reported higher test scores, better grades, and lower dropout rates. This is because students are more alert and focused during their peak learning hours, which typically occur later in the morning.
Last but not least, starting school later can have profound positive effects on student success. By aligning school schedules with the natural sleep patterns of adolescents, we can foster an environment where students are healthier, happier, and more academically successful.
