Should schools start later to improve sleep and

academic performance of high school students?

Argument Synthesis Paper
By: Sam Sarda

Should schools start later to improve sleep and academic performance of high school
students?

John, a high school student came home from school at 3:45 p.m. After taking a forty five
minute break, he worked nonstop on his homework until 11p.m, only taking a thirty minute
break to eat his dinner. Next day he woke up at 5:30 a.m. so he could be at the bus stop at 6:20.
Like most high school students John rarely gets more than 6 hours of sleep on school days. We
live in an exceptional society that emphasizes tremendously on health and well being of its
members, and we know without any doubt that sleep is essential for good health and proper brain
function. However, if you ask a high school student if he or she is getting adequate sleep on
school days and you are most likely to hear a rumbling "No!". More and more high school
students are not able to get adequate sleep each day due to increased demands on their time and
unfavorable school schedules. CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) recommends
8.5 to 10 hours of sleep each day for teenagers, with 13 year olds requiring approximately 10
hours each night and 19 years old requiring approximately 8.5 hours each night (Teens and
Sleep) American Academy of Pediatrics has also declared chronic sleepiness of American
teenagers a public health issue and has called upon middle and high schools to push back their
start times by 30 minutes to an hour to allow students to get more sleep (Netburn). However,
more than 80% of high school students sleep less than six hours each day due to multiple
reasons.
There are multiple causes for sleep deprivation in teenagers. Pubertal changes in
teenagers cause a delay in the evening onset of melatonin secretion which causes most teenagers
to sleep after 11 p.m., about an hour later than prepubertal children (Teens and Sleep).
Furthermore as the sleep-wake cycle changes with the onset of puberty, teenagers also feel

sleepy at a later time. Homework and after school activities also contribute to teenagers going to
bed late. Early start times for school intensify this issue as they cut into teenagers sleep. A threeyear multi-site study involving 9000 teenage school students funded by Centers for disease
Control and Prevention concluded that teenagers in schools that start at 8:30 a.m. or later show
better academic performance and fewer depressive symptoms compared to schools that start
earlier in the morning (School Curriculum Emphasizing the Importance of Sleep.).
Early high school time has been identified as a significant factor that causes sleep
deprivation in teenagers. A recent survey of 154 high school students from Howard County,
mostly from Centennial High school revealed that 67% of survey participants get less than 6
hours of sleep on a typical school day. All high schools in Howard County, MD are open from
7:25 a.m. to 2:10 p.m. It was also discovered that only 6.5% survey participants sleep more than
7 hours on school days. Many studies have shown that not sleeping for adequate length of time
negatively impacts physical, social and psychological health (Ladoux). Insufficient or disrupted
sleep can cause stress, anxiety, aggression, attention deficit, memory problems, obesity,
cardiovascular disease, diabetes, acne, and many high-risk behaviors (.Sleep Disorder Effects |
Sleep Disorder Symptoms) We may not be noticing the negative effects of chronic sleep
deprivation on these students today but the consequences could be severe in the long run.
Therefore, we must question ourselves if it is okay that 93.5% of high school students get less
than 7 hours of sleep each day.
According to Dr. Carl E. Hunt, director of the NHLBI's National Center on Sleep
Disorders Research (NCSDR), "Sleep is as important as physical activity and healthy eating to
our overall health, safety, and performance. Inadequate sleep not only makes us tired, but it can
make it difficult to concentrate, to learn, and to control our impulses and emotions." (Brody). The

importance of adequate sleep and negative effects of sleep deprivation cannot be

overemphasized. Over 87% of Howard County High School students who participated in my
recent survey stated that they do not feel well rested in the morning. More than 81% survey
participants feel that not getting enough sleep is affecting their performance in school. Sleep
deprivation in vast majority of high school students may not seem like a big deal to many, and
we may not notice some minor health effects on teenagers, but over a long period of time, the
consequences could be very severe.
Dr. Judith A. Owens, a pediatrician and sleep specialist stated that Sleep is not optional.
Its a health imperative, like eating, breathing and physical activity, (Brody). Sleep deprivation
can cause some major physical harm in teenagers as it affects their hormones and energy levels.
Hormonal imbalances cause changes in metabolism, reduced immunity, weight gain and acne.
Reduced energy levels and stress due to sleep deprivation also cause teenagers to develop
unhealthy eating habits which in turn can cause weight gain, and development of health
problems such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and acne (Sleep Deprivation: Causes and
Consequences). Sleep deprivation affects the production of growth hormone and therefore may
impede physical growth. Weight gain, stunted growth and acne often bring social stigma to
affected teenagers (Info on Sleep Deprivation).
A research study by University of Pennsylvania found that subjects who were limited to
only 4.5 hours of sleep a night for one week reported feeling more stressed, angry, sad, and
mentally exhausted (Sleep Deprivation). A dramatic improvement in their mood was noticed
when they resumed their normal sleep. According to Dr. Lawrence Epstein, Medical Director of
Sleep Health Centers and an instructor at Harvard Medical School, psychiatric and psychological
problems are related to sleep (Ledoux). Lack of sleep can contribute to psychological problems

such as depression, anxiety, and mood disorders (Sleep and Mood). Individuals behave more
aggressively towards adults and their peers when they are sleep deprived. Over 79% Howard
County high school students who participated in the survey reported that not getting enough
sleep is affecting their behavior such as making them irritable and causing them to eat too much
or too little.
Grades can also be affected by sleep deprivation since students may have trouble in
focusing, understanding and memorizing. Around 81% Howard County high school students
who participated in the survey reported that not getting enough sleep is affecting their
performance in school. Tired students have attention problems and they experience difficulty in
understanding their course material. Inadequate sleep can also prevent high school students from
participating in sports and extracurricular activities they love. Over 57% Howard County high
school students who participated in the survey reported that do not have time for participating in
extracurricular activities. An equal number of students reported that they do not have sufficient
time to finish their homework and assignments each day after school. Tired teenagers might also
be less enthusiastic towards social activities and thus may not learn essential skills to interact
with others. About sixty two percent of survey participants reported not using any form of
caffeine to help them stay awake, while twenty nine percent stated that they use one to two
servings of caffeine each day. While these results do not seem significant, sleep deprivation is
known to increase the likelihood of becoming hooked on addictive substances such as alcohol,
cigarettes, and other drugs (Walstrom).
Inadequate and poor quality sleep is known to affect reaction times. It also impairs
judgment and decision making skills in teenagers. Dr. Robert Verona of Eastern Virginia Medical
School in Norfolk, Virginia conducted a study in 2008 that found that crash rates for 16-18 year

olds were 41 percent higher in Virginia Beach where school started at 7:25 a.m. compared to
adjacent Chesapeake Bay where school started at 8:40 a.m. He suggested that this was due to
early school start times in Virginia Beach. (Brody). Research has shown that teenage students
who go to school later get more sleep (Walstrom). Therefore, Dr. Verona's suggestions is rational
and should be considered by all schools.
Teenagers tend to sleep at later times and awaken later in the morning than younger
children as the onset of puberty causes a change in circadian rhythm that causes a natural delay
in sleep. Early start times for school and early morning extracurricular activities cut into
teenagers' sleep. Many studies have shown greater incidence of physical, mental and social
problems and accidents in sleep deprived teenagers. Getting adequate sleep as their bodies are
still developing is very important for high school students. Adequate sleep is known to increase
attention, efficiency, accuracy, and speed. Chronically sleep deprived, exhausted high school
students have no time to pursue their interests and to develop passions, creativity and innovative
thinking. Multiple studies have shown beneficial effects of later school start times on health and
performance of high school students, and various negative consequences of early school start
times.
Chronic sleep deprivation can lead to many negative health consequences and affect
teenagers physically, psychologically and socially. Despite compelling evidence showing
beneficial effects of delayed school start times on performance, health and well being of
teenagers, many high schools start very early in the morning. While policy makers must also
consider other aspects of this issue they must also realize substantial consequences of early start
time for high schools. When so many students are suffering why are we ignoring this issue
looming before us? Is it acceptable that students come to school tired and unready each day? Are

we not sacrificing passion, creativity and innovative thinking of our youth by depriving them of
sleep which is a basic human need?

Works Cited

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Comments. New York Times, 20 Oct. 2014. Web. 10 Jan. 2015.
"Info On Sleep Deprivation." Essortment. Essortment. Web. 9 Jan. 2015.
Ledoux, Sarah. "The Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Brain and Behavior." The Effects of Sleep
Deprivation on Brain and Behavior. Serendip Studio, 3 Jan. 2008. Web. 16 Jan. 2015.
Netburn, Deborah. "Do Sleepy Teens Need Later School Start Times? Pediatricians Say Yes."
Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2014. Web. 9 Jan. 2015.
"School Curriculum Emphasizing the Importance of Sleep." School Curriculum Emphasizing the
Importance of Sleep. U.S, Department of Health and Human Services. Web. 10 Jan.
2015.
"Sleep Deprivation." Sleep Deprivation. Sleepnet. Web. 11 Jan. 2015.
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2015.
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Wahlstrom, Kyla. "Examining the Impact of Later High School Start Times on the Health and
Academic Performance of High School Students: A Multi-Site Study." College for
Education Human Development (2014). Web. 31 Dec. 2014.