Teens need sleep. It is a fact that has been well researched. But, sometimes, the pressures of school and life get in the way. 

“If I’m not at work after school, I’m at practice. I also have to do my homework so I rarely get to sleep before 11p.m.,” senior Shelby Crim said. 

Many students are unable to get the recommended nine hours of sleep per night due to academic responsibilities, after-school activities and work. High school students only get about six hours and fifty minutes of sleep on average. Teens who get less than nine hours of sleep are more likely to be overweight, suffer from symptoms of depression, engage in unhealthy, illegal behavior and get unsatisfactory grades in school. 

In a study performed by researchers at the University of Washington, Seattle public schools changed the start time from 7:50 A.M. to 8:45 A.M. They found that students were more alert and engaged in class, absences and tardiness decreased, and grades increased by 4.5%.

“Late starts are great, because I get to eat breakfast, come to school early, and I can stay awake during class,” senior Brayden Sparks said. 

Nearly a hundred years ago schools had start times later, typically around 9 A.M. This first got pushed back to earlier times in the 1970’s to save money because they could run fewer busses with the earlier schedule. Schools have continued to start early to earn more money and make after school activities available for students. 

Found info about University of Washington research here: http://neatoday.org/2019/02/27/what-happens-when-schools-start-later/