Do Later School Start Times Improve Student Outcomes?
By: Nick Dong
Source: Tim Walker - NEA Today
For years, educators, parents, and policymakers have debated whether pushing back school start times benefits students. Research increasingly suggests that later start times can improve student well-being, academic performance, and overall health. However, there is a debate over whether the benefits of a later start time outweigh the potential drawbacks and challenges of taking this course of action.
The Science of Sleep and Adolescents
Source: CDC/Education Week
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that middle and high schools start no earlier than 8:30 AM. This recommendation aligns with adolescent sleep patterns, which naturally shift during puberty. The biological changes in teenagers lead to later sleep onset times, making it difficult for them to fall asleep before 11:00 PM and wake up early for school. According to the National Sleep Foundation, teenagers require 8–10 hours of sleep per night, but early school start times often prevent them from achieving this. In fact, around 77% of high school students do not get enough sleep, which leads to negative health consequences and impacts their ability to learn (Weir).
Academic and Cognitive Benefits
Source: Marsha Stoltz - Northjersey News
Several studies have linked later school start times to improved academic performance. A study conducted between two public schools in Seattle found that later start times increased students’ sleep time by an average of 34 minutes each night and resulted in a 4.5 percent increase in final grades (Neighmond). Similarly, researchers at the University of Minnesota analyzed data from 18,000 students and discovered that students’ GPA increased by an average of 0.1 points when school start times were delayed (Walker). While a 0.1-point increase may seem minor, over a large student population, even small gains equate to meaningful improvements in academic performance and student engagement.
Additionally, students in schools that started between 8:30 a.m. and 8:59 a.m. experienced longer sleep duration, improved mood, and better developmental outcomes, including socioemotional health, cognitive development, behavioral health, and physical health (Yip et al.). This suggests that delaying school start times does more than just improve grades; it enhances students’ overall well-being, which is critical for their ability to thrive academically and socially. Moreover, studies show that female students benefit from increased sleep and score higher on reading tests as a result of a one-hour delay in start time. Female students were also more likely to join sports teams but spent less time on activities like SAT prep and leisure activities. Meanwhile, male students received more nighttime sleep but did not gain more overall sleep due to reduced napping, and their test scores were not significantly affected. However, they spent less time watching TV and playing computer games (Groen and Pabilonia). While males may not experience more sleep or improved test scores, there is an increase in productivity or better allocation of their time, which potentially has beneficial outcomes. As students become more efficient with their time, it is likely they establish better habits with regards to learning, enabling them to achieve greater academic success.
Moreover, later start times have been associated with improved attendance, reduced tardiness, fewer instances of students falling asleep in class, and overall better academic performance (Wheaton et al.). These improvements suggest that early school start times may be counterproductive, as sleep-deprived students struggle to stay engaged in class and retain information.
Health and Mental Well-Being
Insufficient sleep is associated with a higher risk of mental health issues, including anxiety and depression. Poor or inadequate sleep has been linked to higher rates of depression and motor vehicle crash rates, and lower cognitive performance (Groen and Pabilonia). Moreover, studies indicate that sleep deprivation can contribute to obesity, weakened immune function, and higher rates of substance abuse among teenagers.
However, in starting school later, the health of students is greatly improved due to increased sleep duration. Delaying school start times also correlates with a reduction in car accidents among teenage drivers. Research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that drowsy driving is a significant contributor to accidents, and students with insufficient sleep are more likely to be involved in crashes. In districts where school start times were delayed, teen car accident rates dropped by as much as 70% (Wahlstrom et al.).
Challenges and Considerations
Despite strong evidence supporting later start times, implementing these changes poses logistical challenges, particularly pertaining to transportation. Many school districts coordinate bus schedules to serve multiple schools, and shifting start times could cause significant disruptions. The financial burden of adjusting bus schedules, hiring additional staff, and making other logistical changes is a barrier that many districts struggle to overcome. Another major consideration is the impact on parents and their work schedules. Many parents rely on early school start times for childcare arrangements, and changes to these schedules could create difficulties in balancing work and family responsibilities.
Beyond logistical concerns, shifting school start times can have broader community implications. For instance, businesses that employ teenagers for after-school jobs may need to adjust their schedules. Likewise, sports teams may struggle with reduced practice time due to limited daylight hours, potentially affecting student participation and development. Some opponents argue that by shortening time spent on extracurricular activities, later start times could negatively impact students’ overall skill development and opportunities to build human capital (Groen and Pabilonia). These concerns highlight the complexity of implementing later school start times and emphasize the need for careful planning to balance student well-being with practical constraints.
Conclusion
The evidence overwhelmingly supports later school start times as a means to improve students’ academic performance, mental health, and overall well-being. While challenges exist, successful implementations in various school districts demonstrate that solutions are possible. Policymakers must weigh the benefits of improved student health and performance against logistical concerns and financial constraints. Ultimately, prioritizing students’ well-being through science-backed decisions can lead to long-term societal benefits.
References
Groen, Jeffrey A, and Sabrina Pabilonia. “Snooze or Lose: High School Start Times and Academic Achievement.” Economics of Education Review, Pergamon, 29 May 2019, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0272775718306800?via%3Dihub.
Neighmond, Patti. “Sleepless No More in Seattle - Later School Start Time Pays off for Teens.” NPR, NPR, 12 Dec. 2018, www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/12/12/676118782/sleepless-no-more-in-seattle-later-school-start-time-pays-off-for-teens.
Wahlstrom, Kyla, et al. “Examining the Impact of Later High School Start Times on the Health and Academic Performance of High School Students: A Multi-Site Study.” University Digital Conservancy Home, 1 Feb. 2014, conservancy.umn.edu/items/81f84856-ad21-4a04-a99c-3e9de4213521.
Walker, Tim. “Later School Start Times More Popular, but What Are the Drawbacks?” NEA, www.nea.org/nea-today/all-news-articles/later-school-start-times-more-popular-what-are-drawbacks. Accessed 23 Feb. 2025.
Weir, Kirsten. “Schools Shift as Evidence Mounts That Later Start Times Improve Teens’ Learning and Well-Being.” American Psychological Association, American Psychological Association, www.apa.org/topics/children/school-start-times. Accessed 23 Feb. 2025.
Wheaton, Anne G, et al. “School Start Times, Sleep, Behavioral, Health, and Academic Outcomes: A Review of the Literature.” The Journal of School Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine, May 2016, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4824552/#S15.
Yip, Tiffany, et al. “School Start Times, Sleep, and Youth Outcomes: A Meta-Analysis | Pediatrics | American Academy of Pediatrics.” American Academy of Pediatrics, June 2022, publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/149/6/e2021054068/188062/School-Start-Times-Sleep-and-Youth-Outcomes-A-Meta.
