Sleep in Middle and High School Students

sleep at school day

What is sleep at school day?

It is well-known that teenagers need around 8-10 hours of sleep per night, but unfortunately, many high school students are not getting the hours of sleep they need. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), middle and high school start times should be no earlier than 8:30 am. However, many high schools in the United States start as early as 7:00 am or even earlier. This early start time is not ideal for adolescents, as their bodies are still adjusting to the later bedtimes that come with puberty. School start times earlier than 8:30 am can interfere with students getting the hours of sleep they need.

The AAP recommends that schools start no earlier than 8:30 am in order to give students the opportunity to get the hours of sleep they need. However, many high schools in the United States start much earlier than this. For example, some high schools start as early as 7:00 am or even earlier. This can be a problem for adolescents, as their bodies are still adjusting to the later bedtimes that come with puberty. School start times earlier than 8:30 am can interfere with students getting the hours of sleep they need.

According to the AAP, insufficient sleep in adolescents can lead to problems with mood, behavior, and mental health. It can also impact students’ ability to learn and remember information. In addition, early school start times have been linked to an increased risk of car accidents among high schoolers.

If your school starts earlier than 8:30 am, there are some things you can do to try to get the hours of sleep you need. Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, even on weekends. Avoid caffeine and energy drinks, especially in the afternoon and evening. Create a relaxing bedtime routine to help you wind down before sleep. And make sure your bedroom is dark, quiet, and cool – a place where you can relax and get a good night’s sleep.

The benefits of sleep at school day

Most middle and high schools in the United States start the school day too early. School should start later in the morning so students can get the sleep they need to be healthy and succeed academically.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that middle and high schools start the school day at 8:30 a.m. or later.1 Starting school later allows students to get the sleep they need to be healthy and perform their best academically.2,3

Research shows that teenagers need about 8½ to 9½ hours of sleep each night.4,5 However, most teenagers do not get enough sleep.6,7 A school day that starts at 8:30 a.m. or later would allow teenagers to get the sleep they need.

There are many benefits to starting school later in the morning. For example, students would be more alert and ready to learn.8,9,10 They would also have more time to eat a healthy breakfast, which has been linked to improved academic performance.11,12,13 In addition, starting school later would decrease tardiness and absences.14,15,16

There are also safety benefits to starting school later. For example, starting school later would decrease the number of car accidents involving teenage drivers.17,18,19 In addition, it would allow students more time to sleep, which would make them less likely to be involved in accidents.20

The bottom line is that starting school later in the morning would allow students to get the sleep they need to be healthy and perform their best academically. It would also decrease tardiness and absences, and make students safer.

The drawbacks of sleep at school day

Most students would agree that a sleep at school day is a great idea. However, there are some drawbacks to this concept that should be considered before making it a regular occurrence.

For one, a sleep at school day would likely mean a shorter school year. This is because students would need to make up the time they missed by sleeping. In addition, students would likely fall asleep in class more often if they were getting a good night’s sleep at school.

Another drawback is that it would be difficult to enforce. Some students would undoubtedly try to take advantage of the situation and sleep all day. This would defeat the purpose of having a sleep at school day.

Finally, there is the cost to consider. It would cost more to heat the school during the winter if students were sleeping there overnight. In addition, the school would need to hire more staff to supervise the students.

Overall, there are some drawbacks to a sleep at school day. However, these should be weighed against the benefits of such a day. Students would likely get a better night’s sleep and be more alert in class. Ultimately, the decision should be up to the school district.

How to make the most of sleep at school day

1. Get there early: If you can, get to school early and take a little nap in your car before class starts. It’s not the most comfortable way to sleep, but it can help you catch a few extra ZZZs.

2. Find a comfortable spot: Once you’re in school, try to find a comfortable spot to rest your head. If you can, find a spot near a window so you can get some natural light. If you’re in a classroom, see if you can find a seat near the back so you can stretch your legs out.

3. Take breaks: If you’re feeling sleepy, try to take a few breaks throughout the day. Get up and walk around for a few minutes or grab a cup of coffee from the vending machine.

4. Don’t skip class: It might be tempting to skip class if you’re feeling tired, but try to resist the urge. Skipping class will only make it harder to catch up on what you’ve missed.

5. Get enough sleep: This might seem like an obvious one, but it’s important to get enough sleep at night so you’re not exhausted during the day. Make sure to turn off electronics a few hours before bed and create a relaxing bedtime routine.