Later high school start times improve student grades and overall health, according to a new University of Minnesota study, released today.
The three-year project, using data from more than 9,000
students attending eight high schools in three states, found that, when
switching to a later start time:
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attendance, standardized test scores and academic performance in math, English,
science and social studies improved.
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tardiness, substance abuse, symptoms of depression, and consumption of
caffeinated drinks decreased.
In addition, the study found that there was a 70 percent
drop in the number of car crashes involving teen drivers at Jackson Hole High
School in Wyoming, which shifted to the latest start time of the eight schools
(8:55 a.m.).
"The research confirmed what has been suspected for
some time," said Kyla Wahlstrom, Ph.D., director of the U of M’s Center
for Applied Research and Educational Improvement (CAREI), which conducted the
study. "High schools across the country that have later start times show
significant improvements in many areas. The reduction of teen car crashes may
be the most important finding of all, as the well-being of teens and the safety
of the general public are interrelated."
The study, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), found that high schools that begin as late as 8:55 a.m. have
66 percent of students obtaining eight or more hours of sleep on school nights,
which is the recommended amount for high school aged students. Schools that
begin at 7:30 a.m. have an average of only 34 percent of students obtaining
eight or more hours of sleep on school nights.
"Even a start time of 8:35 a.m. allows 57-60 percent of
students to get eight or more hours of sleep, which is an important health
benefit for a majority of students," said Wahlstrom. "Local school
districts, school personnel, parents, and students need to understand the
importance of sleep and to make choices using the knowledge from this and other
studies."
In the first study to examine multiple schools in various
locations across the U.S., student data were collected from eight schools that
moved to later start times. Over the last three years, researchers surveyed St.
Louis Park High School, Mahtomedi High School, Woodbury High School, Park High
School, and East Ridge High School in Minnesota; Boulder High School and
Fairview High School in Colorado; and Jackson Hole High School in Wyoming.
Students were individually surveyed about their daily activities, substance use
and sleep habits. Researchers then examined various health factors post-change
in school start time and compared them with national average data.
The study also collected comparative data about students’
academic performance, including grades, attendance, tardiness and performance
on state and national standardized tests. Car crash data were also examined for
the communities surrounding the participating high schools.
The full report, "Examining the Impact of Later High School Start Times on the Health and Academic Performance of High School Students: A Multi-Site Study," includes an examination of the processes by
which local school districts participating in the study made the decision to
change to a later start time. Key participants in the discussions and the
decision-making were interviewed.
"Our research provides evidence of clear benefits for
students whose high schools start at 8:30 a.m. or later," said Wahlstrom.
"More research needs to be done, but these findings are substantive and
should provide more information for school districts considering a change in
start time."
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