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Essay On Why High School Should Start Later

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For about 20 years now, school districts across the United States have debated delaying high school start times to start later so adolescent students are allowed more time to sleep, which studies say helps school performance and brain development. Most high schools in the United States start class at 7:59 a.m or earlier. Statistics show that starting school at these early hours can not only result in multiple physical, psychological and educational problems, but also widespread sleep deprivation. With a later school starting time, all of these issues can be resolved. Students need 8 ½ to 9 ½ hours of sleep per night in order to thrive both academically and physically throughout the day. However, extracurricular activities and homework get in the way. Furthermore, 6% of middle school students and around 20% of high school students fall asleep in school per day. In addition, ⅔ of high school students get less …show more content…

In addition, the study found that there was a 70% decrease in the number of teen drivers involved in car crashes at Jackson Hole High School, Wyoming. Not to mention, a similar study done by Mahtomedi High School shows that 65% of car crashes involving drivers ages 16-18 has dropped. A later school starting time has resulted in reduced amounts of anxiety, depression, and suicidal behaviors. In fact, with a later school start time, health risk behaviors such as physical fighting, physical inactivity, smoking, drinking, stimulant abuse, have all decreased. Although most high schools in America start at 7:59 am or earlier, scientists believe school should start later. A later school starting time will prevent car accidents involving teen drivers and save somebody’s life. In conclusion, there are many benefits to school starting later, such as the advantage of achieving higher test scores, a better sleep at night, and preventing

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Later High school start time are linked to academic performance. According to Sifferlin,in When Sleep and School Don’t Mix, the school has seen so many improvements among student since it required them to be at school start later. The percentage of late students dropped around 3% from the 2011-2012 school year to to the 2013-2014 school year. The number of student falling classes dropped 2.2% and the absentee rate dropped 1.5%.This reveals that kids were arriving on time and the number of student falling classes decreased at least by 2 percent. The article also states “ Stating school later is the best interest of the student when there is a will there has got to be a way.

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Early school start times may hurt many youth's development and make it so they may never reach their zenith. Furthermore hormones make teenagers have difficulty waking up early or going to bed early. School starting as early as they are can cause depression and caffeine addictions. This often harms a student's cognitive and physical development and can endanger those around them. Because of this, schools need to move their start time to a few hours later.

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This prevents adolescents from dropping off until 11 p.m.,” (Kalish), with a different sleeping schedule caused by the hormone melatonin, which causes tiredness, it would be beneficial to start school an hour later. If most high school students don’t fall asleep until 11 p.m. and get up at 6:30 a.m., then most students will only get seven and a half hours of sleep, or less if they have to get up earlier because they live further away and have a longer commute. Studies show that after nine hours of sleep adolescents

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⅖ of students who go to school who start at 8:00 or earlier only get 6 hours or sleep. And ⅔ of students who go to those schools only get 8 hours or sleep (sleepfoundation.org). Teens should get 9-10 hours of sleep per night so that they can do their very best during the day. If we had late start school, then students could do better in school and then that could affect their entire life. Why do schools start early if there are no benefits?

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The American Academy of Sleep Medicine asserts that early school days lead to accidents along the roads, depression among the young teenagers, and upsurge in poor performance academically for middle and high school students. Teens struggle through the challenge of waking up very early in the morning so that they can be at school at the right time. Research implies that teens should get at least eight to nine hours of night sleep for their good health. Various sponsors such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and Centers for Disease Control have the strong advice on why schools should start later. Nevertheless, by being able to sleep more before school starts, students will be able to become well rested, more attentive in classroom settings, and perform better as learners.

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Students ages 12-18 should be going to school after 8:30 am. If you go to school before that time, see how negative that can be for your well being. Middle school and high school students are starting school early in the day, and it is negatively affecting them. For example, they do not get a good night’s sleep, which affects their schoolwork. Another example is that delaying school times can reduce symptoms of depression, which is very concerning.

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In a study conducted by the National Sleep Foundation, they found that “Adolescents that go to sleep at midnight or later are also more likely to suffer from depression and have suicidal thoughts”(Start Times are Unhealthy to Students). While suicidal thoughts can lead to serious long-term problems for a specific student, but for those around them as well. Likely the most effective reason why schools should push back their start times is that of the fact that they pose a problem to teenage drivers. Findings made by the American Academy of Sleep Societies say that “There are data that demonstrate that lack of sleep has negative consequences for teens," he said. "And some data show that younger drivers are more likely to have crashes when they have inadequate sleep”(Holohan).

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This is an important issue because starting schools later has many positive effects. Some positive effects of starting school later is improvements in grades, test scores, and overall performance in core subjects. Another positive effect of starting schools later is that students will be more attentive, have a better memory, a better mood, and a better behavior and executive function. A third positive effect of starting school later is that it gives students the extra sleep they need to perform at the body’s peak ability in academics and physical

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It’s known that many teenagers die from car accidents every year. Pushing the start of school to a later time helps improve the safety of students by decreasing the rate of car accidents. Results of a study on a school district in Fayette County, Kentucky, show a decrease in car accidents for 16-18 year-olds, while there was an increase of car accidents for 17-18 year-olds in the rest of Kentucky. A later school time can help prevent accidents form many reasons. Later in the mornings, students are more alert and efficient, and it’s usually lighter outside.

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These things will improve one’s health. In addition to improving one’s health, it is also better for one’s concentration. The average student needs about ten hours of sleep; however, most students, especially teens, only get around seven hours of sleep. If school started later students would be able to sleep in and therefore get more sleep which would increase their concentration in class.

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Teens don’t get enough sleep and it’s impacting them majorly and negatively. It affects students at school by causing them to be agitated instead of patient, irritated instead of social, and tired instead of focused. In the article, “Sleep Deprivation May Be Undermining Teen Health,” by Siri Carpenter she claims that, “Compared with students whose schools maintained earlier start times, students with later starts reported getting more sleep on school nights, being less sleepy during the day, getting slightly higher grades and experiencing fewer depressive feelings and thoughts.” If all schools started at later times then students will be more focused; thus, students will have better grades and they will feel more confident in themselves which will prevent them from having self-deteriorating thoughts. The main reason why high school students are always so tired is because most of the classes include hours of homework each night.

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They are wrong because according The National Sleep Foundation that “87 percent of high school students in the United States aren’t getting the recommended 8.5 to 9.5 hours of sleep.” (Herrington 20). When schools start early kids are not getting the sleep they need so they can do the best they can in school and in extra curricular

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21% of teen motor vehicle accidents are caused by drowsy driving. Many teens everyday are complaining about their school start times being way too early. Teen tiredness is now considered to be a public health pandemic. School starting at a later time is beneficial because it helps students catch up on sleep. It helps students stay out of trouble.

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760 Words | 4 Pages

I think that sleep is very crucial for kids and teens attending school, and it is a must, therefore I consider school to become later on in the morning. High schoolers need on the average 7 hours of sleep, some students go to bed around midnight, and never get enough sleep. It also really does depend on when you go to sleep, however, even students going to bed around 9:00 have troubles waking up. The school with the earliest starting time is 5:30 am, this can become something very stressful over periods of time. When students are given enough sleep it advances the grades and test scores for students.

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Any less and performance quality throughout the day will suffer. High school students only average a measly five and a half of sleep per night, which results in the inability to focus during class. One study found that only 15% of teens reported sleeping eight and a half hours on school nights. These numbers support the claim that start times need to occur later in the day. Reaching recommended hours of rest not only increases mental well being but physical as

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