School should start later to improve students’ mental health and ability to learn/comprehend information at school.

The average start time for schools is reported to be 8:03 am, which does not leave enough time to prioritize sleep. According to multiple studies, teenagers should be getting 8-10 hours of sleep every day, but with the given work and personal tasks to be completed at home, it is nearly impossible to meet this recommended sleep duration. Considering that sleep is the most important thing when it comes to advancing in academics, schools should start at 9 am to give students a better opportunity when it comes to being alert and proactive.

Global studies report that getting enough sleep as a teenager is extremely important to learn, comprehend, and remember when their brains are still developing. Most teenagers fall asleep around 11:30 pm, leaving on average about 7 hours of sleep, considering that the average wake-up time is 6:30 am. High school students, between the ages of 14-18, should be getting a minimum of 8 hours, which is nearly impossible when students are given hours of work every night. School districts should switch to beginning school at 9 am to give students an opportunity to reach the minimum amount of sleep they need to achieve more at school.

Not getting enough sleep is associated with many negative effects, including being overweight, using drugs, becoming depressed, and worse performances at school. When children become teenagers, their bodies require more sleep due to biological changes, and without enough sleep, their bodies are unable to function properly; their self-esteem can lower, they can become anxious and stressed, and overall they can develop chronic stress deprivation.

Many adults work for companies that start early in the morning, but this is acceptable since their brains are developed and their bodies require less sleep. Adults, aged 18 and over, only require a 7-hour minimum. Different jobs start at various times, but overall adults have more flexibility as to when they go to sleep and wake up. Teenagers do not have the same opportunities because they require more sleep, and therefore should be given the extra hour.

School districts have not started later in the past due to transportation logistics; as long as buses are able to bring every student to school, then parents don’t have to worry about getting their children to school. School should start later in the day to give students a chance to advance in academics and improve their mental health.