Adolescents need more sleep than adults, but most high schools start before 8:00 a.m. This means that many students are getting less than the recommended amount of sleep, which can lead to a number of health problems, including obesity, depression, and anxiety. Later school start times can help students get the sleep they need to be healthy and successful in school.
In addition to improving student health, later school start times can also lead to improved academic performance. Studies have shown that students who attend schools with later start times are more likely to attend school regularly, get better grades, and graduate from high school.
School districts should consider the following factors when making decisions about school start times:
* The average amount of sleep that adolescents need
* The impact of early school start times on student health and academic performance
* The feasibility of changing school start times
By considering these factors, school districts can make decisions that are in the best interests of their students.