Every student wants school to start later. The argument that school should start later in the morning is old but, pushing the time back has benefits for everyone. It’s proven that teenagers don’t get tired till later at night, around 10 and 11 p.m., so why does school continue to start so early in the morning?

High School students have a lot on their plate. From extra-curricular activities to homework there’s a lot of responsibilities on students to succeed.  According to the National Sleep Foundation, teens need an average of 8.5 to 9.5 hours of sleep per night. With homework from Advanced Placement and Honors courses it’s hard to get all your work done and still go to bed at a decent time.

At the latest, I wake up at around 6:30 in the morning. With that, I have to go to bed at 10 atleast to get the recommended amount. On top of that homework, I have a job that requires me to get home late, leaving me with little time for myself after school. On days that I have late start, I can go to bed at my usual time, finish all my homework, and I’m not tired throughout the day.

To benefit student’s grades and to reduce stress schools should start later in the day. Whether we adjust the schedule like we did with tiger paws, or implementing block day like Blue Valley West for four out of the five days, there are plenty of solutions to give students more sleep and improve their health.