Later School Start Times: Lazy or Legit?

Why Do Teenagers Struggle to Wake Up Early?

I hear a lot of times about teens and middle schoolers saying, "I really don't want to get up to go to school in the morning," or they are getting late to school and then they are getting notices about being in truancy because they are tardy all the time. This is not entirely their fault. Studies show that adolescents who don't get enough sleep often suffer from physical and mental health problems and a decline in academic performance.

They don't really mean to be so tired, but their body just isn't ready to wake up at such an early time. Getting enough sleep is hard for a teen whose natural sleep cycle makes it difficult for them to fall asleep before 11 p.m. and who faces a first-period class at 7:30 or earlier the next day.

Benefits of Delaying School Start Times

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that middle and high schools delay the start of classes till 8:30 a.m. or later. Doing so will align school schedules with the biological sleep rhythms of adolescents whose sleep cycles begin to shift up to two hours later at the start of puberty.

Adolescents who get enough sleep have a reduced risk of being overweight and suffering depression as well. They are less likely to be involved in automobile accidents because they are well-rested while driving, and they have better grades, higher standardized test scores, and a better overall quality of life.

Studies have shown that delaying early school start times is one key factor that can help adolescents get the sleep they need to grow and learn. Many studies have shown that the average teen in the United States is chronically sleep-deprived. The National Sleep Foundation found that almost 60% of 6th through 8th graders and almost 90% of high school students in the United States get less than the recommended eight and a half to nine and a half hours of sleep on school nights.

Reasons Behind Sleep Deprivation in Teenagers

The reasons teens lack sleep are complex. There's homework. There are extracurricular activities. Some kids when they are older, have after-school jobs, and then don't forget the use of technology. Kids will stay up and play on their smartphones or tablets or the computer way past their bedtime. Pediatricians should recommend to parents and teens that they have healthy sleep habits, including enforcing a media curfew as to when to turn all those electronics off.

Evidence strongly suggests that a too-early start to the school day is a critical contributor to chronic sleep deprivation. About 40% of high schools in the United States currently have a start time before 8:00 in the morning. Only 15% start at 8:30 or later. Middle schools mostly start around 8:00 in the morning, and more than 20% of middle schools in the United States start at 7:45 or even earlier.

Napping and extending sleep on the weekends and using caffeine can temporarily counteract sleepiness, but they do not restore the body's optimal alertness, and they are not a substitute for good sleep.

How Parents Can Help

As pediatricians, we in the American Academy of Pediatrics have gotten involved with this effort. By advocating for later school start times for middle and high school students, the American Academy of Pediatrics is promoting the compelling scientific evidence that supports schools' start times being delayed as an important public health measure.

We also are trying to provide support and encouragement to the school districts around the country who are thinking about making that change. As parents, you too can talk to your schools and get them to understand what your teen needs in terms of start times and help your child get the best education they can.

_{updated: September 3, 2024
originally published: March 16, 2015}