Schools Start Too Early

Schools Start Too Early

Learn how starting school later can improve adolescent health, academic success, and quality of life.

Adolescents often struggle with insufficient sleep, a common issue linked to several health and behavioral risks. Poor sleep among high school students is associated with being overweight, substance use (alcohol, tobacco, and drugs), and decreased academic performance. One contributing factor is early school start times, which limit the amount of rest students can get.

To address this, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that middle and high schools begin at 8:30 a.m. or later, allowing students the opportunity for adequate sleep. However, most schools in the U.S. still start too early.

The Impact of Early School Start Times

According to the 2014 School Health Policies and Practices Study:

  • 93% of high schools and 83% of middle schools in the U.S. started before 8:30 a.m.
  • A 2011-2012 CDC study revealed that in 42 states, the majority (75%-100%) of public schools began before 8:30 a.m.

The percentage of schools with later start times varied significantly by state:

  • No schools in Hawaii, Mississippi, and Wyoming started after 8:30 a.m.
  • Conversely, most schools in North Dakota (78%) and Alaska (76%) had later start times.

Why Sleep Matters for Teens

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends that teenagers aged 13 to 18 get 8 to 10 hours of sleep per night for optimal health. Adolescents who fail to meet this requirement face increased risks:

  • Physical health: Being overweight and lack of physical activity.
  • Mental health: Higher likelihood of depression symptoms.
  • Behavioral risks: Greater engagement in unhealthy behaviors like drinking, smoking, and drug use.
  • Academic struggles: Poor school performance.

Biological changes during puberty shift adolescents’ sleep patterns, making them feel sleepy later at night and requiring them to wake later in the morning. Early school start times often disrupt this natural rhythm, compounding the effects of irregular bedtimes and technology use at night.

Everyone Can Play an Important Role

Parents

Model and encourage habits that help promote good sleep:

  • Set consistent bedtimes: Establish a regular sleep schedule, even on weekends.
  • Reduce evening light exposure: Dim room lighting and limit screen time before bed.
  • Enforce media curfews: Remove electronic devices from bedrooms and set limits on nighttime use.
  • Advocate for change: Work with local school officials to promote later school start times, considering transportation costs and scheduling challenges.

Health Care Professionals

  • Educate teens and parents about the importance of adequate sleep and the factors affecting it.

School Officials

  • Understand the connection between later start times and student well-being. Combining good sleep habits with adjusted school schedules can improve adolescents' health and academic outcomes.

Shifting school start times is not just a schedule change—it’s a step toward better health, improved academic performance, and a higher quality of life for students.

More Information

References

  1. Crowley SJ, Acebo C, Carskadon MA. Sleep, circadian rhythms, and delayed phase in adolescence. Sleep Med. 2007;8:602–12.
  2. Bartel KA, Gradisar M, Williamson P. Protective and risk factors for adolescent sleep: a meta-analytic review. Sleep Med Rev. 2014;21:72–85.
  3. Knutson KL, Lauderdale DS. Sociodemographic and behavioral predictors of bed time and wake time among US adolescents aged 15 to 17 years. J Pediatr. 2009;154:426–30, 30 e1.

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