High School Start Later Essay

The benefits of starting high school at a later time would promote a higher education level with more willing and active students, as well as a more pleasant work environment for the teachers compared to that of an earlier arrival period. The early arrival time of many high schools today is unfortunately becoming the cause of sleep deprivation, health and safety issues, and poor student behavior. Later starts in high school will lead to healthier students who will ultimately receive a better education.

Sleep deprivation can immensely affect teenagers’ mental and physical health. According to the National Sleep Foundation, it is necessary teenagers get about nine hours of sleep every night, but fewer than fifteen percent receive eight and a

Students who are fatigued from their lack of sleep usually end up falling asleep in class, not concentrating enough, or dozing off. An extra one or two hours of sleep would definitely improve this problem.. In Anne Arundel County, MD., the buses start coming around 5:50 am, and the public schools would start at 7:17 am. Lisa Rodvien, a teacher who taught there, stated that the attendance of her first period classes “.. were as low as fifty percent or below.” She would walk over to the kids who were sleeping with their heads down, wake them up, and see how fatigued they were (Beth J. Harpaz, “Starting High School Later May Help Sleepy Teens”). A late start would definitely increase the attendance and alertness of students. Compared to the meager performance of the sleep deprived students, a few extra hours of sleep would definitely make them more productive. High schools who started having later starts are producing positive results. A University of Minnesota study this year used many school districts such as Minneapolis to St. Paul who have later start times, and found the safety and educational benefits (The Editorial Board, “High Schools: Wake Up to Later Start Times: Our View”). Nauset Public Schools in Massachussetts placed an hour later start, and their analysis showed that there was a 53%