why school should start later essay

Exploring the Evidence: 7 Comprehensive Reasons Why School Should Start Later for Enhanced Student Well-being and Academic Success

Traditionally, schools have adhered to an early morning schedule, a routine that is increasingly viewed as misaligned with adolescent physiological rhythms and conducive to chronic sleep deprivation. This discrepancy between school schedules and the natural sleep patterns of teenagers has sparked a significant reevaluation of how educational institutions can best support the developmental and learning needs of their students.

Reasons why School should Start Later in the Morning: – Better for students sleep and attendance – Don’t need to stay up as late to do homework because you can do it in the morning — Pisha 🍉 ⪩⚢⪨ Et Le Ena Piou (@mafuanenautism)  September 30, 2022

This article embarks on a comprehensive examination of the subject, exploring the multifaceted benefits of starting school later, the considerations and challenges that come with such a change, and the real-world implications as evidenced by initiatives like those undertaken by the Seattle School District. Through this analysis, we aim to provide a balanced perspective on why the shift towards later school start times could represent a significant step forward in fostering environments that truly cater to the needs and potentials of our young learners.

7 Reasons Why School Should Start Later

1. improves academic performance.

Discover in this video how mastering healthy sleep habits can serve as a genuine performance enhancer in the classroom, leading to better sleep and higher GPAs for students.

2. Allows Teens to Get More Sleep

The mismatch between teenagers’ biological clocks and early school schedules is a significant barrier to their health and well-being. Recognizing the critical importance of sleep for this age group underlines the need for adjustments in school start times to support their developmental needs.

3. Reduces Absenteeism

This not only benefits students’ academic performance and continuity of learning but also contributes to a more vibrant, participatory school environment. Improved health outcomes due to adequate sleep thus serve as a preventive measure against common ailments, ensuring that students remain present and engaged in their educational journey.

4. Lowers Risk of Depression and Mental Health Issues

5. reduces drowsy driving in teens, 6. helps teens feel happier, 7. reduced stress, the potential drawbacks of starting school later, 1. scheduling sports and extracurriculars becomes more difficult, 2. increases childcare costs and logistical challenges for working parents, 3. may make after-school jobs and activities more difficult, 4. reduces time for homework and family activities, the impact of delayed school start times in seattle school district, useful resources, final thoughts, leave a comment cancel reply.

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Persuasive Essay About Why School Should Start Later

Table of contents:

• Introduction
• Body paragraphs

It’s one of the favoured topics among high school students. You’re tired. After being up late last night, your school day started at 8:30 am this morning, and you want to know if anything can be done about it. Or perhaps you’re an early bird and like the time that school starts in the morning. Well, you can write a persuasive essay, and maybe if it’s good enough, your voice will be heard, either way.

Start off by taking a firm stance with your thesis statement. Whether you feel school should start later in the morning, or should not, you need to figure out why, and the reasons and benefits (or negatives) in your own mind, first of all. Make a quick outline with your statement of purpose at the top, followed by each point you want to make and the evidence you are going to use to support each point. Remember that you can use any evidence you like in a persuasive essay; it need not be restricted to facts and figures, but can be anecdotal, emotive, or statistical. Think of yourself as a politician trying to persuade an audience to vote for him or her.

Introduction examples

Pro: It’s been proven in many studies that teenagers do better with a later start to the day. With this in mind, why do we still start school at 8:30 in the morning?

Con: Starting later in the day at school interferes with parents’ working days, encourages students to stay up late, and would cause problems with after-school practices for sports.

Moving on into the body of your essay, carry on following your outline, setting up each point and presenting your evidence as you go. Have a look at potential titles, too, which should be reflective of your thesis statement.

Body paragraphs examples

Pro: Teenagers in high school should start at about 10 am. This would allow for a leisurely morning, making the day start off less fraught and stressful. A teenager could stay up until midnight or 1 am and still get a decent amount of sleep, which doesn’t happen when they have to wake up at 6:30 or 7 am. Traffic, too, will be more spread out, easing congestion, and students can take the time to get a good breakfast and be really mentally prepared for the day.

Con: Parents worry about getting themselves to work on time even when school starts at 8:30. A lot of working days would have to change significantly for people to get to work on time if high school started at 10 am instead. This could lead to large amounts of business disruption, and possible discrimination against parents for needing more flexible working hours.

Your conclusion is your last chance to leave an impression on your audience, so make it significant and meaningful. Start by briefly reiterating what your points were, and finish with a bang by calling on your audience to take some action in response to your essay.

Conclusion examples

Pro: Starting later results in benefits for teachers, benefits for students, and also for parents. Think about how rested you’d feel if you had a full eight hours or more sleep each night, and how much more you could get done in your day.

Con: A later school start will throw Australian cities into chaos and maybe even cause some parents to face consequences at work. The way things are now is fine, and there’s no need to fix what isn’t broken.

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Why Should School Start Later?

Table of Contents

Teens reverie sleep each day. This need does not imply laziness on their part or lack of ambition thereof. Instead, sleep cycles change as children grow into adolescence. In adolescence, teens stay up until late and only get up late. It happens because their bodies release a hormone called melatonin which regulates their sleep. Consequently, the melatonin-induced rest keeps teens asleep until 8 a.m. making it appropriate to go to school later. Schools starting later help improve physiological and psychological well-being and help improve learners’ educational performance.

Physiological and Physical Well-Being

Arguably, the most crucial reason schools should start later is adolescent physiology. Adolescents are still growing and developing, and their body clocks are still changing. Studies have shown that, due to these changes, adolescents tend to go to bed later and wake up later than adults, leading to a lack of sleep (Crowley et at., 2018). This lack of sleep can negatively affect adolescents’ physical and mental health, such as fatigue, irritability, and poor concentration. Starting school later would allow adolescents to get the amount of sleep they need. A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that when schools started later, adolescents got an extra 42 minutes of sleep per night compared to when schools began earlier. This extra sleep can help to improve their physical and mental health and can help to improve their performance in school.

The teenage years are a time of rapid physical and psychological growth and development. As adolescents try to figure out who they are and where they fit in, they often feel overwhelmed by the pressures of school, their peers, and society. As a result, adolescents are more prone to stress and anxiety than adults. One way to help reduce this stress is to start school later in the morning. By giving adolescents more time to rest and relax before facing the pressures of school, they can better manage their stress levels (Freeman et at., 2020). Studies have shown that adolescents report feeling less stressed, more rested, and more alert when school starts later in the morning. These findings suggest that starting school later in the morning can reduce stress and improve psychological functioning in adolescents. In addition to reducing stress, starting school later can also help to enhance adolescents’ self-esteem.

Adolescents often struggle with insecurity and self-doubt as they try to fit in with their peers and find their place in the world (Freeman et al., 2020). As a result, they often compare themselves to their peers, leading to feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem. Starting school later can reduce this pressure by giving adolescents more time to rest and relax. This habit can help adolescents to accept themselves for who they are and be more confident in their abilities. Evidence from studies has shown that when school starts later in the morning, adolescents report feeling more positive about themselves, including handling more confident, less anxious, and less stressed (Patrick et al., 2020). Starting school later can also help adolescents better manage their emotions. Adolescents often struggle with regulating their emotions and can become easily overwhelmed by their feelings. These emotional states can lead to irritability, impulsivity, and aggression. However, starting school later in the morning can help reduce these feelings, giving adolescents more time to rest and relax before facing the pressures of school. Evidence from studies has shown that when school starts later, adolescents report feeling less irritable, more alert, and more capable of managing their emotions.

Educational Reasons

The most apparent educational benefit of starting school later is that it gives students more time to sleep. Sleep is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle and is vital for students’ physical and mental health. A later start can give students more time to get the sleep they need to be well-rested and alert during the school day. Studies have shown that students who get adequate sleep are more likely to perform academically, attend better, and be more motivated in school (Sweller et al., 2019). In addition to the potential health benefits of getting more sleep, starting school later can also provide more time for learning and development. With more time in the morning, adolescents can participate in activities such as studying, reading, or reviewing material they learned the previous day. This action can help improve their understanding of the material and help them retain the information longer.

A later start time can also provide more time for extracurricular activities and sports. These activities can help improve adolescents’ physical health and provide them with opportunities for social interaction and emotional development (Freeman et al., 2020). Providing adolescents more time for these activities can help improve their overall well-being. Furthermore, starting school later can help to reduce the stress that students often experience. With a later start time, students can spend more time on activities they enjoy and less worrying about getting up for school in the morning. This will help reduce stress levels and allows students to focus more on their education.

In conclusion, there are many advantages to having school start later. School starting later would give students more time to get adequate sleep, which helps with their mental and physical health. Furthermore, students would be more alert and have better focus during their classes, allowing them to absorb more information and make better grades. Later starting times also give students more time to spend on extracurricular activities and less time worrying about homework and exams. Finally, starting school later would reduce students’ stress and help create a more positive school environment. In addition, starting school later would benefit both students and teachers, an idea that school administrators should seriously consider.

• Crowley, S. J., Wolfson, A. R., Tarokh, L., & Carskadon, M. A. (2018). An update on adolescent sleep: New evidence informing the perfect storm model. Journal of Adolescence, 67 , 55-65.
• Freeman, S., Marston, H. R., Olynick, J., Musselwhite, C., Kulczycki, C., Genoe, R., & Xiong, B. (2020). Intergenerational effects on the impacts of technology use in later life: Insights from an international, multi-site study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17 (16), 5711.
• Patrick, S. W., Henkhaus, L. E., Zickafoose, J. S., Lovell, K., Halvorson, A., Loch, S., … & Davis, M. M. (2020). The well-being of parents and children during the COVID-19 pandemic: A national survey. Pediatrics ,  146 (4).
• Sweller, J., van Merriënboer, J. J., & Paas, F. (2019). Cognitive architecture and instructional design: 20 years later. Educational Psychology Review, 31 (2), 261-292.
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Why Schools should Start Later for the Sake of Students’ Well-being

This essay is about the benefits of starting school later for students, emphasizing improvements in health, academic performance, and safety. It argues that adolescents’ natural sleep cycles require more rest, and early school start times lead to chronic sleep deprivation, negatively impacting cognitive function and mood. Research shows that later start times result in better grades and test scores due to increased alertness and engagement. Additionally, well-rested teens are less likely to be involved in car accidents, enhancing their safety. The essay also addresses potential challenges, such as disruptions to family schedules and extracurricular activities, and suggests solutions for a smooth transition to later start times.

How it works

The argument over when schools should start has heated up in recent years, with a growing number of scholars, parents, and educators supporting later start times. There are many strong arguments in favor of this reform, especially those that have to do with teenage health and academic achievement. We may gain a better understanding of why starting school later could significantly improve students’ lives by delving into these arguments and addressing the issues raised by a change in timetable.

Teenagers’ sleep habits are one of the best justifications for starting school later.

Teenagers and adults naturally have distinct sleep cycles from adolescents. They require more sleep and typically go to bed later. Early start hours for schools, however, conflict with these biological cycles, causing many teenagers to suffer from chronic sleep deprivation. This sleep deprivation can have a negative impact on their mood, memory, and cognitive skills. Based on studies, pupils are more likely to receive the appropriate amount of sleep when schools start later. This can improve their mental health overall, increase their ability to concentrate, and decrease absenteeism.

Beyond the health advantages, later starts are associated with higher academic achievement. Research indicates that students who get enough sleep exhibit higher levels of alertness and engagement during class. The American Academy of Pediatrics, for instance, discovered that pupils in high school who enrolled later in the year achieved better test scores and grades than students who enrolled earlier. This is explained by increased information retention capacity, less drowsiness during the day, and improved attention. Students who get enough sleep are less prone to burn out and are more likely to engage in active learning in the classroom.

The advantages of starting school later extend beyond health and academics. There’s also a safety factor to consider. Sleep-deprived teenagers are at a higher risk of engaging in risky behaviors and being involved in accidents, especially while driving. In locations where school start times were moved back, there was a drop in car accidents involving teenage drivers, according to a study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This drop is largely because well-rested drivers are more alert and less prone to mistakes on the road. Therefore, shifting school start times could significantly impact student safety both in and out of school.

However, implementing later start times isn’t without its challenges. One major concern is the potential disruption to family schedules and after-school activities. Parents who depend on early school start times for childcare or work commitments might find a later start inconvenient. Additionally, extracurricular activities, sports practices, and part-time jobs typically occur after school, and a later start could push these activities further into the evening, leaving less time for homework and relaxation.

Despite these challenges, many schools that have moved to later start times have found ways to manage them. Adjusting bus schedules, coordinating with local businesses, and rearranging after-school activities can help accommodate the new start times. It’s crucial to engage the community and plan thoroughly to address these logistical issues and ensure a smooth transition. By involving parents, teachers, and students in the decision-making process, schools can develop strategies that meet everyone’s needs.

In summary, the argument for later school start times is backed by extensive research highlighting the benefits for students’ health, academic performance, and safety. While there are logistical challenges to consider, the potential positive outcomes make a strong case for reevaluating school schedules. By prioritizing the well-being and success of students, communities can create a more supportive learning environment and promote the overall development of young people.

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Home — Essay Samples — Education — Starting School Later — School Start Times Should Be Later

School Start Times Should Be Later

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Published: Mar 1, 2019

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Should Your School Day Start Later?

If it did, would students get more sleep? Or would they just stay up later?

By Shannon Doyne

Find all our Student Opinion questions here.

Do you get enough sleep during the school year? If not, what keeps you from being well rested?

Do you wish your school day started later? In your opinion, what would be the advantages and drawbacks of a later start time?

In “ California Tells Schools to Start Later, Giving Teenagers More Sleep, ” Christine Hauser and Isabella Kwai write about a new California law that pushes back start times at most public middle and high schools. The law cites research that says attendance and performance will improve if teenagers get more sleep. The article states:

The passage of the law followed years of mounting calls for later school start times from sleep experts who said such a move would optimize learning, reduce tardiness and contribute to overall well-being. The law encourages districts to publish research on their websites about the impact of sleep deprivation on adolescents. A frequently cited policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics, made in 2014, called insufficient sleep for adolescents a “public health issue” and recommended that most schools start no earlier than 8:30 a.m. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine agreed. In one 2006 poll from the National Sleep Foundation, 45 percent of adolescents in the United States said they slept for an insufficient length of time on school nights, and 19 percent of students said they fell asleep in school at least once a week. Another study, published in 2017 by the University of Minnesota, which surveyed 9,000 students across five school districts with varying start times, found that those who started school later slept more. Students who had more sleep reported better mental health outcomes and less use of substances like alcohol and cigarettes. Students who slept more also had improved attendance and enrollment rates, and they were less likely to drive while drowsy. About 90 percent of high schools and 80 percent of middle schools in the nation start before 8:30 a.m., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in 2014.

Students, read the entire article, then tell us:

Do you feel like you get enough sleep?

What would be your ideal time to start the school day? What about to end the school day? Why?

How would changing your school’s start and end times affect activities like sports, clubs and part-time jobs?

Anthony J. Portantino, a Democratic state senator who wrote the bill, calls later start times for schools a “magic bullet” when it comes to education. What are your thoughts on this? Can later start times really improve things like test scores, attendance and graduation rates? Explain.

Students 13 and older are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public.

Why both teens and teachers could benefit from later school start times

Lecturer in Science Education, Sussex School of Education and Social Work, University of Sussex

Disclosure statement

James Williams does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

University of Sussex provides funding as a member of The Conversation UK.

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A typical school day in the UK starts around 8.30am. This is often even earlier elsewhere in the world, with students sitting down to their first lesson at 7.30am in the US.

But these early start times can play havoc with teenager’s natural sleeping patterns – with research showing that waking a teenager at seven in the morning for school is similar to waking an adult at four in the morning . And while many adults wouldn’t relish such an early alarm call every working day, it’s a “non-negotiable” expectation for teenagers.

The average teenager ideally needs eight to nine hours’ sleep each night, but in reality a lot of teenagers struggle to get this much – which can then impact their performance in the classroom.

A lot of the problems arise because our sleep patterns are not fixed, and they change as we grow . For teenagers, melatonin – the sleep hormone – doesn’t start being produced until 11pm. This is why teens don’t start feeling sleepy until late at night, and why simply telling a teenager to go to bed earlier doesn’t work.

This has led to calls for later school start times for teenagers to align more closely with their bodies’ biology.

What the research shows

A major study published in 2014 examined the impact of later start times on 9,000 US teenagers. Researchers found that:

Grades earned in core subject areas of math, English, science and social studies, plus performance on state and national achievement tests, attendance rates and reduced tardiness show significantly positive improvement with the later start times.

They also found that with less sleep than recommended, the students reported that they had:

Significantly higher depression symptoms, greater use of caffeine, and are at greater risk of making poor choices for substance use.

In the US – where teenagers can legally drive from the age of 16 – the research also found later start times led to a decrease in car accidents involving teenage drivers.

Why teenagers sleep differently

To understand why a later school start time can make such a difference to teenagers’ lives, we need to take a look at the biology that governs their sleep wake cycle.

We all have a sort of hardwired “clock” in the brain – this is often referred to as our body clock. This “clock” controls the production of the hormone melatonin, and in turn, melatonin controls sleep. Melatonin is naturally produced in the brain and starts the process of sleepiness by telling your body that it’s time for bed.

Once asleep, we normally go through five sleep stages a night. And one of the stages – the REM (Rapid Eye Movement) stage – varies significantly with age.

REM sleep is linked to learning, and it’s during REM sleep that we dream. It is characterised by quick, random movements of the eyes and paralysis of the muscles. REM sleep normally makes up around 20-25% of an adult human’s total time spent asleep – or 90 to 120 minutes. We get to REM sleep about 70 to 90 minutes after falling asleep. And if we don’t achieve REM sleep, we wake up feeling tired.

Studies have also shown that lack of REM sleep can impact our ability to learn . And this is what happens to teenagers who do not get their full allocation of sleep. They fail to get to REM sleep and then wake up feeling tired, which can then impact their ability in the classroom that day.

The benefits for late starters

So a later school start time could help to solve this problem, by ensuring teenagers get their eight plus hours of sleep and react properly to their body’s natural rhythms.

The American Academy of Pediatrics , said in a policy statement in 2014 that:

Delaying school start times is an effective countermeasure to chronic sleep loss and has a wide range of potential benefits to students with regard to physical and mental health, safety, and academic achievement.

I believe we should also look again at the timing of the whole school day and see if we can make it better for everyone. Because in my experience, there has been a general shift over the past 25 years to shorten the school day.

This is not at the cost of teaching time (which has remained constant) but at the cost of natural breaks, which has led to reduced lunch times and lesson breaks.

This is mainly because it makes the management of children easier. Supervising hundreds of children “playing” requires effective staffing. And there is always the fear that behaviour deteriorates during breaks. So the theory goes that having them in class and strictly supervised must be better.

But this means that students barely have enough time to absorb what they were doing in maths before suddenly they are thrust into ancient history. And teaching staff also transition from one class to another, with hardly a rest or time to refocus.

Clearly rethinking the school day could benefit everyone involved. Yes, there may be challenges in terms of parental work patterns, transport to school or changing childcare arrangements, but it could also lead to better achievement in teenagers and less of a struggle for parents in the mornings. For teachers, it could also mean a less stressful day all around – and what could be better than that?

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Later school times promote adolescent well-being

Moving high school start times can improve student performance and general quality of life

• Schools and Classrooms

Delaying start times

Though comprehensive national statistics on school start times are not available, it is common for American public high schools to begin their instructional day between 7–8 a.m. Research has shown that these early bell times are responsible for the discrepancy between how much sleep teens need and how much sleep they get. 9 When school systems have moved to later start times, they have found that their students get more sleep. 4,19 – 20 Numerous studies have been done with schools that have shifted to later start times; while individual differences in communities and research methodology have led to different outcomes, results are almost always positive. Benefits observed from later high school start times include: 4, 6,9 – 14, 16, 19 – 21

• Increased attendance rates 
• Decrease in disciplinary action 
• Decrease in student-involved car accidents 
• Increase in student GPA 
• Increase in state assessment scores 
• Increase in college admissions test scores 
• Increase in student attention 
• Decrease in student sleeping during instruction 
• Increase in quality of student-family interaction

These benefits are from studies of delayed start times in schools and districts across the country in Colorado, Connecticut, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Rhode Island, Virginia, & Wyoming. They have been done with schools in a broad range of developed environments–urban, suburban, and rural.

Sleeping in adolescence

The optimal amount of sleep for adolescents is approximately 9 ¼ hours nightly. 2 Surveys show that, while younger children generally get enough sleep, by early adolescence, most do not; this trend continues to worsen throughout the teenage years (See Figure 1 ). More than half of teens aged 15-17 sleep for 7 or fewer hours per school night.

Teens are notorious night owls – generally, they go to bed late in the evening and, when given the opportunity, wake up late in the morning. This tendency has biological and physiological roots. The sleep-wake cycle is governed by both the homeostatic drive for sleep (Process S) and the circadian rhythm (Process C). 5,8

• Process S builds during wakefulness and makes you feel tired. This process weakens during adolescence. 1,3
• Process C helps the body determine when the right time for sleep is. It naturally shifts later during adolescence. This is called Delayed Phase Preference. 18

Process S and Process C heavily influence mood and learning abilities. 17 While they are interconnected, fixing an issue with one does not mean that an issue with the other will be resolved. That is, simply going to bed earlier does not necessarily make someone less tired in the early morning hours. 9

Benefits of sleep

Scientists are still discovering new benefits of sleep. Research has suggested that sleep is vital to almost all areas of human functioning. Some benefits of sleep are listed below. 6,7,9,16,21

Sleep leads to increases in/benefits to:

• Memory & learning 
• Emotional regulation 
• Mental health & well-being 
• Weight control/Body Mass Index (BMI)

Loss of sleep leads to decreases in/problems with:

• Information retention & cognition 
• Student behavior and classroom conflict 
• Attendance issues 
• Mood regulation

Concerns about delayed start times have generally focused less on academic/social/cognitive outcomes and more on logistical complications. Some considerations include: 9

• Increased cost, congestion, & delays associated with having busses on the road later in the morning 
• Inability of parents to rely on older children for afternoon childcare, as the lower schools would have effectively switched schedules with the upper schools. 
• Scheduling conflicts for intervarsity/interscholastic events with neighboring jurisdictions that have earlier dismissal.

These issues are surmountable, and, with adequate planning, can be minimized or completely eliminated.

While implementation may be complex, particularly when a change would bring a school’s schedule out of sync with neighboring systems, delaying school start times so that adolescents begin their instructional day later provides numerous benefits to the students and their broader community alike.

1. Carskadon, M. A. (2011). Sleep in adolescents: The perfect storm. Pediatrics Clinics of North America, 58 , 637-647.

2. Carskadon, M. A. (2013). Optimal sleep habits in adolescents. In H. P. A. Van Dongen & G. A. Kerkhof (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Sleep, 190 , 86-87.

3. Carskadon, M. A., Acebo, C., & Jenni, O. G. (2004). Regulation of adolescent sleep: Implications for behavior. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1021 , 276-291.

4. Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement. (1998). School start time study. Technical report: Vol. II. Analysis of student survey data.

5. Crowley, S. J., Acebo, C., & Carskadon, M. A. (2007). Sleep, circadian rhythms, and delayed phase in adolescence. Sleep Medicine, 8 , 602–612

6. Davison, C. M., Newton, L., Brown, R. S., Freeman, J., Ufholz, L. A., & Smith, J. D. (2012). Systematic Review Protocol: Later School Start Times for Supporting the Education, Health and Well-being of High School Students. The Campbell Collaboration .

7. El-Sheikh, M., Bagley, E. J., Keiley, M. K., & Erath, S. A. (2014). Growth in Body Mass Index From Childhood Into Adolescence: The Role of Sleep Duration and Quality. The Journal of Early Adolescence.

8. Hagenauer, M. H., Perryman, J. I., Lee, T. M., & Carskadon, M. A. (2009). Adolescent changes in the homeostatic and circadian regulation of sleep. Developmental Neuroscience, 31 , 276-284.

9. Kirby, M., Maggi, S., & D’Angiulli, A. (2011). School start times and the sleep-wake cycle of adolescents: A review and critical evaluation of available evidence. Educational Researcher. 40 (2), 56-61

10. National Sleep Foundation. (2005a). Changing school start times: Arlington, Virginia

11. National Sleep Foundation. (2005b). Changing school start times: Denver, Colorado

12. National Sleep Foundation. (2005c). Changing school start times: Fayette County, Kentucky

13. National Sleep Foundation. (2005d). Changing school start times: Jessamine County, Kentucky

14. National Sleep Foundation. (2005e). Changing school start times: Wilton, Connecticut

15. National Sleep Foundation. (2014). 2014 Sleep In America ® poll - Sleep in the modern family: Summary of findings.

16. Owens JA, Belon K, Moss P. (2010). Impact of delaying school start time on adolescent sleep, mood, and behavior. Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine, 164 (7), 608–14

17. Schmidt, C., Collette, F., Cajochen, C., & Peigneux, P. (2007). A time to think: Circadian rhythms in human cognition. Cognitive Neuropsychology, 24 , 755–789.

18. Tarokh, L., & Carskadon, M. A. (2009). Sleep in adolescents. In Squire, L.R. (Ed.). Encyclopedia of Neuroscience, 8 , Oxford Academic Press, 1015-1022

19. Vedaa, Ø., Saxvig, I. W., & Wilhelmsen-Langeland, A. (2012). School start time, sleepiness and functioning in Norwegian adolescents. Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research, 56 , 55-67

20. Wahlstrom, K. (2002). Changing times: Findings from the first longitudinal study of later high school start times. NASSP Bulletin, 86 (633) , 3–21.

21. Wahlstrom, K., Dretzke, B., Gordon, M., Peterson, K., Edwards, K., & Gdula, J. (2014). Examining the Impact of Later High School Start Times on the Health and Academic Performance of High School Students: A Multi-Site Study. Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement.

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What Do We Really Think of Later School Start Times?

Constance Sommer

Contributing Writer

Constance Sommer is a freelance writer living in Los Angeles. Her articles and essays have appeared in The New York Times, the Washington Post, Vogue, Knowable, and AARP, among others.

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Table of Contents

• At a Glance

Why Does School Start So Early?

How much do start times really affect teens’ sleep, what would we gain from later start times, where does america stand, methodology.

• 38.2% of surveyed U.S. adults believe school start times in their area should be later, compared to 36.6% wanting earlier starts and 25.2% wanting no change.
• California has mandated an 8:30 a.m. or later start time for its high schools as of July 1, 2022.
• Florida approved the same mandate for 8:30 or later start times for high school students in 2023, and this is set to take effect in 2026.
• 83% of U.S. public high schools started before 8:30 a.m. in 2020.
• 44.2% of surveyed parents say they like school start times the way they are, with 34.8% wanting later starts and 21% seeking earlier ones.
• 69.2% of parents and guardians say their school-age children were getting sufficient sleep this past school year.

In 2022, California became the first in the nation to mandate a school start time of no earlier than 8:30 a.m. for high schools, no earlier than 8 a.m. for middle schools. The mandate, which was approved in 2019, took effect at the beginning of the 2022-23 school year. Florida became the second state to pass such a law in 2023, mirroring California’s mandated start times for middle and high school students. Florida’s mandate takes effect in 2026.

There’s science behind it. Teens need at least eight to 10 hours of sleep , according to leading sleep researchers. Numerous surveys in the past decade show that as much as 69% of them aren’t even getting seven hours.

“I would love to see districts really put the public health and learning needs of all children at the forefront because teenagers who aren’t getting the sleep they need cannot learn how they are supposed to in school,” says Wendy M. Troxel, Ph.D., a senior behavioral scientist at RAND Corp. and a SleepFoundation.org medical advisory board member.

While California and Florida are the first to pass statewide laws on the subject, several other states have proposed similar mandates, and cities and school districts nationwide have implemented later start times.

But what do parents, teachers, and other school personnel think about school start times?

SleepFoundation.org polled 1,250 of them in July 2022 and found mixed sentiment. The largest batch of respondents, 38.2%, believed school start times in their area should be later. The rest are satisfied with times as they are now (36.6%) or would like them earlier (25.2%).

Diving deeper into what people think, a clearer picture may emerge about when and where we might see school start-time changes throughout the country.

Before the pandemic, more than 80% Trusted Source National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) The NCES is the primary federal entity for collecting and analyzing data related to education in the U.S. and other nations. View Source of high schools started their school days before 8:30 a.m., with the average public school beginning at 8 a.m. and 10% ringing the first bell of the day before 7:30 a.m.

That wasn’t always the case. Until a few decades ago, high school teens started their school days as late as 9 a.m. What changed? Districts began to stagger busing schedules as a cost-saving measure. Older children saw their school start times move up, with many having to wake before sunrise to get to sports practices and even classes.

For parents and educators, those early start times also became a habit. It could explain why 44.2% of parents and caregivers in SleepFoundation.org’s poll say they prefer start times to stay the same, compared to 34.7% wanting them pushed back and 21% wanting them even earlier.

Among Census regions, 42.1% adults in the Northeast preferred later starts, followed by 39% in the Midwest, 38.1% in the South, and 35.3% in the West. So maybe that habit is itching to be broken.

Kids need more sleep than adults. Recommendations typically say that children ages 14 to 17 should be sleeping eight to 10 hours Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source a night, with children ages 6 to 13 needing nine to 11 hours.

This is because our bodies, especially our brains, are developing when we go through childhood, with sleep playing a major role.

Puberty in particular shifts the internal biological clock of adolescents back two hours, Troxel says. But getting up early for school, taking on after-school activities, and finishing homework work against the change.

“Your biology wants you to stay up later and sleep in later,” Troxel says, “so teenagers are chronically sleep-deprived.”

Studies show Trusted Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) As the nation’s health protection agency, CDC saves lives and protects people from health threats. View Source that 31.2% of children ages 13 to 17 aren’t getting enough sleep. That increases to 37.4% of kids ages 6 to 12.

Parents say nearly the same thing, according to the SleepFoundation.org survey. Ninth- to 12-graders average 7.7 hours of sleep, their parents say, below the recommended eight hours. Some 59.5% of parents or guardians say they agreed with the statement that their kids got sufficient sleep on weeknights.

Parents of sixth- to eighth-graders say their children get 7.7 hours of sleep each school night, as well, with 63.8% considering that sufficient. Among first- to fifth-graders, that increases to an even eight hours, with 78.6% of respondents calling that sufficient.

In all, 69.2% of parents and guardians say their school-age children were getting sufficient sleep this past school year. But what about the rest?

When Andi Mannes’ 15-year-old son, Andrew, had a late start time of 8:55 a.m. on Tuesdays at Torrance High School in Torrance, California, the extra hour of sleep came in handy.

“Those mornings, [Andrew] would wake up and be just this pleasant, wonderful kid, and so excited and getting everything done with plenty of time,” Mannes says of her son, who enters his junior year in fall 2022. But: “If we have to drop him off at 7:40 [a.m.], he gets up at the very last second. He’s rushing, he’s yelling, he can’t find his shoes. It’s far more chaotic.”

It’s part of the reason behind the California and Florida laws, and others like them. Studies show that teens in schools with later start times get better sleep Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source .

“This is a public health issue,” says journalist Lisa L. Lewis, who campaigned for the California change and detailed her research in her book “ The Sleep-Deprived Teen .”

Based on responses from surveyed parents or caregivers who prefer later start times, the majority (81.4%) thought later starts would lead to more sleep for students, and 72.4% agreed that they’d also get more sleep themselves.

But sleep isn’t the only factor. Adjusting schedules, fitting in after-school activities, and shifting transportation needs also enter the start-time conversation. Among survey respondents who felt start times should stay the same, 53.8% felt a change would reduce after-school activities for students. The top reason for respondents who favored earlier start times was schedule fit (68.9%).

Skeptics of later school-start times exist. More male respondents to the SleepFoundation.org survey preferred earlier start times (33.6%) to later (32.5%), for example, while 43.3% of females preferred later times.

And then there are teachers. Only 35.2% of surveyed teachers favored later start times, with 36.6% choosing earlier starts.

Administrators in California were particularly vocal when the law passed there in October 2019. That’s when Orange County superintendent Al Mijares argued in CalMatters that starting the school day later is a luxury many working-class parents can’t afford: “The indisputable reality in many of our communities is that students have to begin their day at the same time as their parents.” Another California teacher called the law “a case study in ‘unintended consequences.’”

California did give schools the option of creating a “zero period” earlier in the morning to accommodate early arrivers.

Although California and Florida were the first states to approve a late-start law, these are not the first municipalities to consider it. When Seattle high schools switched to an 8:45 a.m. start time in 2016, one study Trusted Source National Center for Biotechnology Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source found that students got about 34 more minutes of sleep a night. During the 2022-23 school year, Seattle high schools started at 8:50 a.m. to accommodate buses.

A decline in bus service also drove public schools in Denver to move to 8:20 a.m. start times in 2023. There appears to be a growing push for later start times in other communities. Start School Later, an organization dedicated to mandating later start times across the country, claims more than 150 volunteer-led chapters in 33 states and the District of Columbia.

Meanwhile, late-start bills are moving through other states. Representatives in Connecticut , New Jersey , New York , and the U.S. Virgin Islands have proposed mandates for later start times at public schools. Massachusetts and New Mexico have also proposed bills authorizing studies regarding school start times, and Oregon has proposed a similar measure to create a start time “task force.”

Some districts have gone the opposite direction. Kentucky’s Jefferson County Public Schools proposed testing a 9:55 a.m. start time, then scrapped the plan in 2022 after teacher and parent outcries. And Philadelphia rejected 9 a.m. starts for high schools for the coming school year because of a shortage of bus drivers, among other reasons.

Start-time preference varies by state, according to the SleepFoundation.org survey. Twenty states came out in favor (or via a tie) of later school start times, according to their residents. These include South Carolina, whose 8:34 a.m. start time was the latest in 2020, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Missouri and New Jersey residents preferred earlier start times. All other states had a majority leaning toward no change.

As for California: 35.6% of residents who responded to SleepFoundation.org’s survey favored later start times, compared to 32.6% wanting earlier start times and 31.9% wanting them to stay where they are.

Delaney Davis, 18, a recent graduate of Hamilton High School in Los Angeles, got a head start. Her school switched to 8:30 a.m. starts a year before the law took effect.

“It felt more productive to have that extra sleep time,” she says. “I was definitely more awake.”

The survey commissioned by SleepFoundation.org was conducted on the online survey platform Pollfish between July 20 and 21, 2022. Results are from 1,250 survey participants who were ages 18 and older; lived in the United States; and were a parent, guardian, educator, or professional/volunteer who worked with K-12 students at the time of the survey. All attested to answering the survey questions truthfully and accurately.

About Our Editorial Team

Constance Sommer, Contributing Writer

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15 Reasons Why School Should Start Earlier (Top Benefits!)

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

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The debate over school start times often focuses on the many reasons school should start later . However, there are plenty of debate arguments for why school should actually start earlier.

Here are 10 possible reasons why schools should stick with an earlier start time.

• Cuts transportation costs
• Gets students to school faster
• Has benefits for work schedules
• Lets districts pool resources more effectively
• Allows more free time
• Creates academic advantages
• Is safer for travel
• Allows for afterschool jobs
• Establishes a routine
• Prompts a healthy lifestyle
• There are no clear benefits of starting later
• Students don’t see their parents as much
• Allows time for after-school sports
• Negates the need for daylight savings time
• Allows teachers to do more with their day

Starting earlier has benefits for kids of all ages and serves the additional purpose of saving the school district a good amount of money. The rest of this article will discuss the benefits of starting school early.

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Reasons Why School should Start Earlier

1. early start times cost less for schools.

One of the main reasons schools haven’t instituted later start times is the associated costs.

For example, Greenwich school district conducted studies into pushing back start times after reading the evidence supporting later start times. However, they found that any scenario would lead to increased costs. Here was one key finding:

“Pushing every school’s start back by 30 minutes to 90 minutes would involve between 10 and 19 extra buses, requiring an additional outlay each year from approximately $760,000 to some $1.5 million.”

Similarly, staggered bus routes – where high schools start earlier and elementary schools stay the same – would lead to more time for the busses to complete their routes, but would increase costs for insurance, fuel, and wages for drivers.

2. Students can Skip the Traffic

As well as saving the school money on fuel, early morning start times help to avoid the traffic.

Avoiding traffic has abundant benefits. For one thing, it will mean there is less of a chance that the busses and cars will get caught in traffic jams, meaning students will theoretically turn up to class on time more often.

This does, of course, assume that students will make it to the earlier bus and not accidentally sleep in.

However, keep in mind that if everyone starts driving on the roads earlier to get their kids to school, the traffic may shift with the changes in school times, negating this benefit.

3. Has Benefits for Work Schedules

Another good benefit of starting school earlier is that it can blend more effectively with parents work schedules.

For students who can’t be left unattended, parents have to pay out of pocket for daycare or babysitting services if they leave the house well before their child is picked up for school.

An earlier start could mean that parents can get the students to school and then get on with their days – going to work, doing early shopping, and so forth.

Of course, the downside here is that an early start time may lead to an early ending time, which just pushes back the scheduling clashes into the afternoon.

4. It Lets Districts Pool Resources More Effectively

There’s always a need for good bus drivers, and sharing buses is common practice in a school district.

Unfortunately, buses are expensive to run and can only be used for one route at a time. Starting earlier in the morning, particularly for grade students, allows busses to be available for picking up students who have later start times.

If all students began at the same time, the district would need to have buses and drivers available to meet the demand for all those students at the same time.

By giving grade school students an earlier start, the rest of the district has transportation resources available for students.

However, as noted earlier, this would also be associated with higher costs for transit.

5. Allows More Free Time

Between school, jobs, and team practices, students today are swamped with work. This leads to the concept of the over-scheduled child .

While starting early might be a bit of a bummer for them, doing so ensures that they finish earlier, too, allowing them to pursue afterschool activities, manage homework, and still enjoy their free time without feeling like they have no personal time.

By giving children more free time, they may in fact get time to play, be creative, and potentially even get more sleep (Glauser, 2018).

6. You Get More into the Day

Starting early means you can fit more into your day. And while adults often burn out part-way through the day, adolescents can power through well into the afternoon.

As a result, by sending children to school early, we can get them to fit more into their days, and even potentially open up debates about having 4-day school weeks.

This reasoning is likely why schools do start so early, with 93% of high schools and over 80% of middle schools starting prior to 8:30a.m.

(Note: For a counterargument , consider the abundance of evidence showing school-age children’s brainpower is best around mid-morning – see: Dikker et al., 2020).

7. Is Safer for Travel

People advocating for later school starts often point out that sleep deprivation makes early morning driving dangerous for teenagers (Taheri & Arabameri, 2012).

While this evaluation is correct, it doesn’t consider the other side of the proverbial coin: later commutes home from work are also dangerous, especially in urban environments.

Starting school earlier may be able to give students space to drive to and from school with less traffic which could make the streets safer.

8. Allows for Afterschool Jobs

For high school students preparing for the future, an afterschool job is a major part of growing their savings early.

Schools that start earlier are usually finished in time for high school students to pick up a part time job in their local area.

Not only does a job earn them valuable money for college, but it also teaches them discipline and responsibility in a work environment.

9. Establishes a Routine

Establishing a routine is difficult as an adult, much less as a child, but for students of all ages, establishing an “early to bed, early to rise” mentality has numerous health benefits .

It enables students to mentally prepare themselves for the day and set up a routine to transition into adulthood.

Getting up early ensures that students are ready for a bed at a decent time, avoiding some risky situations often associated with detrimental behavior.

10. Prompts a Healthy Lifestyle

Schools starting earlier not only helps students establish a morning routine, but it also benefits their lifestyle as whole.

Students who adapt to getting up early, preparing for the day, and balancing their daily schedule are more prepared for adulthood.

Creating a healthy school-life balance by understanding what’s expected of them, tackling homework, and participating in extra-curricular activities translates to a healthy work-life balance in the future.

11. There’s no Clear Benefit to Starting Later

While there is some scattered evidence of making school start times later, the most extensive systematic review on this topic found there isn’t enough evidence to make start times later.

In other words, if you’re debating the topic of school start times and you’re on the side of earlier start times, make sure you argue at least the point that there’s no need to make start times later.

As Marx et al. (2017, p. 10) argue in their systematic review:

“We cannot be confident about the effects of later school start times.”

Therefore, there needs to be much clearer and far less biased studies on school start times before making school start times later.

12. Students may see their parents more

A study (Hinrichs, 2011) of schools that start later found that late start times lead to less interaction between children and their parents.

The study found:

“…later school start times may be associated with decreased morning interactions between parents and children.” (Marx et al., 2017, p. 43)

An earlier start time, on the other hand, may lead to more interaction because the parents and children will have more evening and afternoon time to spend together.

Here, the assumption is that late start times just mean the children sleep in; while early start times mean the children get up, get their day done, and then can spend some time with their families.

13. Allows time for after-school developmental activities

If school starts earlier and ends earlier, then society can start structuring after-school activities for children that allow for holistic development of children.

This may include structuring mid-afternoon sessions for children’s development in sporting, play, creative, artistic, and musical pursuits.

We could envisage a world where formal schooling ends and students go on to structured activities of their choice associated with pursuing their creative or sporting interests. This may help to raise a society that’s not just focused on academic standards, but also a more holistic experience of the diverse range of human pursuits.

14. Negates the need for daylight savings time

The rationale for daylight savings time is to allow people to have one extra hour of light in the evening during summer.

There is ample debate about the value of daylight savings time. But if students started and ended school earlier, then there wouldn’t be a need to squeeze an extra hour of sunlight into the day for children’s activities.

As a result, we can reduce one more argument about the benefits of daylight savings time.

15. Allows teachers to do more with their day

If teachers can finish their day of work by 2pm, they could schedule extra things into their afternoons.

At the moment, teachers spend their nights preparing classes for the next day. This can make their work-life balance very poor.

But if teachers finish their school day by 2pm, they can spend the next 3 hours preparing their next day’s classes and not bring school work home with them. This will increase their time with their families in the evenings.

Furthermore, as a teacher, I get frustrated that I can never book appointments at the bank or with the dentist because I am always working when they were open. But if I can get off work at 2pm, I can finally get to those appointments.

Transitioning to an early schedule can be challenging for many students, but at the end of the day, it’s often a decision made to benefit the school district as a whole.

Cutting back on transportation costs, pooling resources, and staggering busloads to and from school are some of the main reasons that schools, particularly grade schools, start so early in the morning.

Dikker, S., Haegens, S., Bevilacqua, D., Davidesco, I., Wan, L., Kaggen, L., … & Poeppel, D. (2020). Morning brain: real-world neural evidence that high school class times matter.  Social cognitive and affective neuroscience ,  15 (11), 1193-1202.

Glauser, W. (2018). Overscheduled and glued to screens—children are sleeping less than ever before. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 190 (48). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.109-5676

Hinrichs, P. (2011). When the bell tolls: The effects of school starting times on academic achievement.  Education Finance and Policy ,  6 (4), 486-507.

Marx, R., Tanner‐Smith, E. E., Davison, C. M., Ufholz, L. A., Freeman, J., Shankar, R., … & Hendrikx, S. (2017). Later school start times for supporting the education, health, and well‐being of high school students: a systematic review.  Campbell Systematic Reviews ,  13 (1), 1-99.

Taheri, M., & Arabameri, E. (2012). The effect of sleep deprivation on choice reaction time and anaerobic power of college student athletes. Asian journal of sports medicine, 3 (1), 15.

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4 thoughts on “15 Reasons Why School Should Start Earlier (Top Benefits!)”

This is so wrong on every level. 1. Sleep is known to be a very important part in learning new things. If students don’t get enough sleep, they wouldn’t be able to learn as effectively, therefore making schools much less effective than they could be. If your argument to that is “student can go to sleep earlier so they get more sleep” you are wrong for the following reasons: A. If they go to sleep earlier, they have less free time(because their day ends earlier). I don’t understand how this one fact gets ignored by literally everyone. B. Sleeping doesn’t work that way. You can’t just fall asleep whenever you want. To fall asleep, you need this hormone called melatonin. This hormone is not produced at will whenever you want to go to sleep. I guess you never understood biology, otherwise you would know that reflexive actions you body does aren’t always up to conscious decisions we make. And some people(like me) are not affected by melatonin pills. C. Insomnia is a thing that exists in some students. For people with insomnia, falling asleep is even harder than it is for most people. So unless schools want to discriminate against insomniacs, they should not expect everyone to come early. D. Since student need sleep to learn better, they probably won’t need as many lessons in each subject every week, making the school shorter(because there are less classes). Though I am not so sure that schools would notice this if it happened. 2. After-school activities would be moved forward if schools ended later. Because that’s when students would be available. In fact, those who participate would probably preform better, since they would be less tired. This seemed pretty obvious to me, but I guess you never thought about it, since you didn’t mention it. 3. Daily routines don’t have to start in the early morning, and a healthy lifestyle doesn’t have to include waking up and going to be early. In fact, it’s probably unhealthy, since sleeping in the natural time when you feel tired is much better for your health than trying to force yourself to fall asleep to early and forcing yourself to wake up with an alarm clock. 4. Those who want to get up early still can, and they can have some free time in the morning before school, at home. As you can probably imagine, waking up and immediately having to get ready quickly to get to school on time is not a pleasant experience. Especially if you woke up late. So starting school later can make morning a lot less stressful.

I think these are plenty of good reasons for schools to start later. Fact: Finland’s education system is the best in the world, and they start later and end pretty quickly, so some of my points actually exist in real life, and show results.(not to say that starting late and finishing early is the main factor in Finland’s education system’s success, but that it obviously isn’t harmful to the students’ school lives, and that they don’t hate school.)

I hope you actually understood that there are plenty of good reasons to move school starting times forward, and that you understand that most people hate waking up early. Though adults do need to wake up early, the same standard should be held against children and adolescents, who’s brains are still developing and need sleep the most.

Good points Yael. The points presented in the article are possible debate points for students to critically engage with, not necessarily gospel… we also have a complementary article presenting some of your arguments against starting school earlier, that is linked to within this piece.

Thanks I needed this for my ap psych assignment

I agree. I am currently doing an assignment in school on why school start times should be changed. One of the biggest reasons I have found is that when teenagers hit puberty their body goes through something called phase delay. This is where their circadian rhythms shift back by about two hours. This means that most teenagers can’t fall asleep until 11pm.

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Why School Should Start Later (Persuasive Essay Sample)

Why school should start later.

School days are not supposed to start before 8.30 a.m. This fact is supported by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine that links early school days to car accidents along the roads, depression among the young ones and increase in poor performances academically. Children struggle through the challenge of waking up very early in the morning so that they can be in class right on time. Research indicates that teens should get at least eight hours of night sleep for their good health. Various stakeholders such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and Centers for Disease Control have the strong recommendation on why schools should start later. However, many districts have not received the recommendations well since the changes seem to be expensive and can cause serious disruption of normal schedules.

Schools are likely to report increased presence of children in class if the time of start is pushed beyond 8.30 in the morning. The best example is in Bonneville County, Idaho which has reported a drop of about 15% children absence in class after the institution of the changes. Other states such as California have state funding tied to class attendance. It, therefore, implies that more dollars will be sent to schools due to increased attendance. Cumulatively, an increase in class attendance will result in increased funding to schools hence more children accessing education at the basic level.

Another factor of importance is the grade performance of children which is directly affected by the hours of sleep. Various researchers have shown that children grades improve with an increase in hours of sleep which implies later time of starting school schedule. According to Finley Edwards who is an economist at Colby College, the math test and scores of reading increased by about 3 percentile points if the start time of school is delayed by one hour. Delaying the school’s starting time is, therefore, more efficient and easy way of improving performance when compared to other strategies.

Opponents of the proposal for delayed starting time believe that later starting time will cause children to miss classes at the day end attending to events of sports. The argument may be true but it fails to capture the fact that more sleep will result in decreased injuries to children as they play since their minds are fresh. Many of the injured children who participate in athletic activities miss classes and at the same time more than one week of playing. The injuries still add to the amount of money spent by schools and government in offering treatment. Increased hours of sleep happens to be an easy way of ensuring students are in class and on the field without missing any of them.

Besides, teens who do not get enough sleep have another problem of getting sleepy when driving. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration refers to such situation as an extreme danger that involves drowsy driving. Teens and young adults are mostly involved in these type of accidents which increases the safety concerns and premiums for insurance. According to the study by InsuranceQuotes.com in 2013, the rates in California increased to about 62% after just one claim for compensation. However, late start times for schools have indicated an improvement in the situation of safety on the roads.

Another important fact to face is that most teens who get little sleep are at risk of drug and abuse of alcohol, depression and even suicide cases. According to the report “Sleepless in Fairfax,” the difference of about one more hour to sleep decreases hopelessness, ideas of suicide and substance abuse among children. It is therefore a high time all states should adopt the changes for the benefit of children and young adults.

Crafting a Winning Why Major Essay

Crafting a “why major” essay.

The why major essay is one of the most common types of essays found in the college application requirements. Why is it a favorite among colleges? Well, it help the college know which college majors its applicants are planning to pursue. It also allows the admissions committee to see how the applicant plans to use their major in the future. Good why major essay examples will demonstrate the applicant’s passion for their subject. They will also showcase the student’s knowledge of the school’s specific offerings and how they’ll benefit from them.

Many applicants may struggle when trying to approach the why major essay. Some students simply struggle with essay writing no matter the prompt. And those who are undecided on their college major may find it particularly difficult to answer this prompt. However, reading college essay examples will allow students to understand what it takes to write a strong essay. Even reading a why this college essay sample can help students get started in the process. 

In this article, we will go over how to craft a strong why major essay, even if you are an undecided student. We will review the different colleges that require why major essay examples. And we’ll talk about how to tailor a why major essay to a specific college. Additionally, we’ll show some why major essay examples and explain why those were college essays that worked. Finally, we’ll share some tips you can use to improve your why major essay, making it as strong as the why major essay examples featured in this article.

But first, let’s better define the subject at hand: the why major essay. 

What is a “Why Major” Essay?

A why major essay is an essay that asks students to explain their interest in a particular field of study . Some colleges require all students to answer these prompts. But others might only require them for certain disciplines, such as a why engineering essay or why music essay. The prompts for why major college essay examples are similar, but not identical. Some categories include why did you choose this major essay examples and why this major essay example.

A why major essay is often a supplemental prompt on a school’s college application, similar to a why this college essay sample. These types of college essay examples are often shorter than the Common Application essay. You’ll note that college essays that worked to gain students admission to top schools will always fully answer the prompt, within the specified word limit. This means you might have to be concise with your answers. Later, we will review why major essay examples for reference.

10 Top Schools that Require a “Why Major” Essay

Keep in mind that not all schools require a why major essay. The why did you choose this major essay examples we will go over later represent a few of the top schools that require a why major essay from students. Below we have a list of the 10 schools that include a why major essay as part of their application process:

Top 10 Schools that Require a “Why Major” Essay

1. princeton university.

All applicants must complete a why major essay. But, there is a specific why engineering essay requirement for those applying to that specific discipline. We will see a few college essay examples from Princeton later on in the article.

2. Cornell University

You’ll notice that Cornell why major college essay examples are tailored to the specific college the student is applying to. This means that there are eight different why major essay prompts for students to respond to. 

3. Columbia University

The why major essay is one of five essays that Columbia requires. There is also a why this college essay requirement. So, if interested in applying to Columbia, you’ll want to read a why major example and why this college essay sample. 

4. Yale University

Essentially, Yale has a two-part why major essay. First, students must identify three academic areas of interest, and then they will have to expand upon one of them.

5. University of Pennsylvania

Similar to Cornell, UPenn has a why major essay specific to each of its schools. For example, if you’re planning on applying to the School of Engineering and Applied Science, you’ll write a why engineering essay. 

6. Rice University

Rice requires a why this major essay example among its three supplemental essay questions. Students applying to Rice also have the opportunity to share a photo that is meaningful to them as part of their application

7. Emory University

Emory requires all applicants to submit a why major essay. Luckily, they have a blog with college essay examples for you to see college essays that worked to gain students admission. 

8. University of Michigan

UMichigan asks students to reflect on why they are applying to a specific School of College. Additionally, admissions wants to know how that program will help them pursue their passions. 

9. University of North Carolina

UNC has quite an open-ended prompt as their why major essay requirement. Students will simply reflect on an academic topic that they wish to pursue at UNC. This could be anything from research interests to a specific course.

10. Georgia Institute of Technology

Last on our list, Georgia Tech asks students to expand on their choice of major. Similar to the other schools we’ve mentioned, they want to know why Georgia Tech is the best place for you to pursue your chosen major. 

Choosing your College Major

Before diving into reading why major essay examples, it is important to think about what major you want to pursue. Logically, this will be the main topic of your essay. Keep in mind that college majors vary from school to school. As such, your college majors of interest will affect your college list. When thinking about your college major, it is important to consider your current interests while also thinking about your future goals.

First, think about which high school classes you enjoyed the most. These will often, but not always, be classes you earned strong grades in. In addition to your classes, think about your experiences outside of the classroom. Consider your extracurriculars–do they link to a specific academic area? For example, maybe being on the robotics team was the highlight of your high school experience. As such, you might look into a major in engineering. 

Then, think about the career path you might want to pursue and how your major might help you get there. Some careers , such as nursing or engineering, lend themselves to very specific college majors. This puts students on the path toward those professions. Other fields, like law or education, have a wide range of college majors that students may pursue. If you don’t know exactly what career you want to have, that’s ok! Simply think about a major that will set you up with skills that you can use in a wide variety of jobs.

Choosing a college major can feel overwhelming. For additional information on how to make the decision, read this guide or watch this webinar ! 

Why Major Essay Examples

The next sections will cover different why major essay examples from a variety of colleges. We will include the full text of each of these college essays that worked. We’ll also provide explanations for why these college essay examples were successful. Think of these why major college essay examples as models that you can use when crafting your own why major essay. 

Why Major Essay – Columbia University

Our first why this major essay example comes from Columbia University. The writer of this why major essay showcases their passion for journalism. Let’s check out our first why major essay example:

Columbia University “Why Major” Essay Example #1

During my high school career, i devoted much of my time to journalism, a craft which i believed encompassed things i’m passionate about. i practiced my photography and storytelling, and on staff, our main mission was coverage. we sought to cover all students, not just the student body president or quarterback. in doing so, i learned how to reach out, tell, and share the stories of those who otherwise would remain silent. i believe this storytelling and way of using my voice attracted me to the field of urban studies. the connections between the places one inhabits, and how that in turn affects virtually all factors of their lives, is a story. it is woven in the dna of our cities and citizens, and i am passionate about sharing these stories and gaining more insight. interviewing students at my school allowed me to better see my community, as i saw not only who composed my school, but what they were passionate about. i hope to do the same work in the field of international affairs by representing my community: all people. journalism allowed me to acutely feel the emotions of people and tell their story authentically., why this essay worked.

The writer of this essay uses specific examples to show how their passion for journalism inspired other interests. Specifically, we see the writer’s interest in storytelling. Namely, they are passionate about giving a voice to those who might otherwise not have one. We clearly see that the writer has developed a myriad of skills from journalism: interviewing, photography, storytelling, and researching. In true journalistic fashion, the essay contains vivid details and evocative phrases like “woven into the DNA of our cities and citizens.” This language draws readers in and showcases the student’s writing abilities and style.

The essay concludes by looking ahead to the writer’s future at Princeton. They describe how pursuing a major in international affairs will help them accomplish the goal of continuing to seek out and report on important stories. The student seamlessly integrates their love of journalism with their interest in international relations. In doing so, they create a compelling picture of the type of Princeton student they will be. Readers of this essay are left with no doubt of the author’s passion for journalism and commitment to their choice of major. 

Our second why this major essay example also comes from Columbia but is a why engineering essay. Let’s take a look: 

Columbia University “Why Major” Essay Example #2

Columbia engineering’s comprehensive financial engineering program is the primary reason why i applied. its impressive curriculum covers just about every topic, ranging from data engineering to asset price theory. i am most interested in the data analytics and machine learning (ieor e4212) course, where i can put into use my knowledge of python, and see its application to data engineering and its practicability in the financial world. asset pricing methods and numerical analytics are both topics that i look forward to learning about. , i am particularly interested in the research opportunities within this major, such as the research in optimization theory. the optimization theory research opportunity goes into detail about important topics such as matching markets and financial & business analytics, which are areas i want to work in the future..

This essay’s strength lies in its thorough research and clear articulation of the author’s specific interests. In the first paragraph, the writer names specific subjects at Columbia that they want to take. The student also mentions how those classes will help them build on their existing knowledge. These kinds of details require research into the school. These details show the admissions committee that the writer has seriously considered their future at Columbia.

In the second paragraph, the writer continues to build their case for admission, commenting on specific research topics that they want to engage in. This shows Columbia that they would be a good fit for their financial engineering program, bringing both skills and passion to their studies. By going into their specific qualifications, the author sets themself apart from other applicants. They make it clear why Columbia specifically appeals to them. A good why major essay demonstrates interest in the subject matter and the college itself.

Why Major Essay – Princeton University

Our next why this major essay example comes from Princeton University. It also comes from an engineering applicant.

Princeton University “Why Major” Essay Example #1

One of my valuable engineering experiences is the rutgers university winlab internship. in the first person view self-driving car project, we had to assemble hardware to produce a car model that would be compatible with the given software. using that software, we had to code and revise programs to control the car effectively from our computers. even though i had knowledge from taking college courses such as csci s-38 at the harvard summer school, i found the practical application of computing knowledge in this project to be much more sophisticated than i anticipated, and model revisions that would work in theory did not produce the anticipated result. since then, i have continued to be fascinated by the practical engineering aspects of stem..

The author of this essay shows their passion for engineering by describing both a significant internship and summer course. These specific examples show readers that this applicant comes with existing experience and is looking forward to gaining more at Princeton. This essay works because it highlights the author’s prior credentials and their desire to further their knowledge.

A good why major essay does not talk exclusively about the major itself, but how you plan to use the knowledge gained in that major. This essay strikes a wonderful balance between describing the author’s past accomplishments and future plans. The author also does well to indicate that they are prepared to rise to the challenges of college, showing that they are not put off by setbacks. This resilience is important, especially in a demanding field like engineering where failure is an expected and natural part of learning.

Our final why this major essay example also comes from Princeton University. This is a different kind of why engineering essay that focuses on financial engineering. 

Princeton University “Why Major” Essay Example #2

Princeton university has some of the highest-quality programs in the nation. as someone aiming to be a financial engineer, i am most interested in the financial econometrics and financial engineering laboratories. the research done in the financial econometrics laboratory, like building financial models, testing financial economics theory, and simulating financial systems, involves practical applications to financial engineering topics and does not limit the students to theoretical work. as i have learned from past experience, real-life stem applications are much more sophisticated to work out than the theories would indicate, and the experience gained from these labs will be much more important for my future career than simple lectures..

Like the essays we have examined before, this essay shows strong evidence of research and highlights the writer’s qualifications for entering the financial engineering program. The author clearly articulates their career goals in the second sentence. Then they outline how the Princeton program and facilities will help them accomplish those goals. Beyond that, the author shows familiarity with multiple specific details about Princeton’s program. This shows demonstrated interest in the school, an important trait for any application.

The author also does well to outline the specific qualities of the Princeton financial engineering program that appeal to them, highlighting research opportunities. These details show that the student understands the goals of the college and the program they have chosen to pursue.

How to write a Why Major Essay

As the why did you choose this major essay examples have shown, there are a few techniques that can strengthen your why major essay. Whether it’s a why engineering essay or or general why major essay, these techniques will help! Here are a few takeaways from these college essays that worked:

Make the essay about you

In all the why major college essay examples, the writers focused on themselves, their interests, and what they plan to accomplish in their chosen field. Even though the prompt seems to be more about college majors, what admissions officers really want to know is what draws you to that field and what you would do with it. Your why major essay should allow the college to get to know you, highlighting your personality rather than saying what you think the college wants to hear. 

Demonstrate some research into the college

The why major essay examples include specific details about the programs they are referencing, including the names of classes and research topics under investigation. These details show the college that you are familiar with their offerings and have seriously considered why you want to study this major at their school. When you are writing your own why major college essay sample, think about why that college’s program is a good fit for you.

Showcase what you would contribute to the college community

Colleges are not looking for cookie cutter applicants with identical resumes and perfect grades. Instead, they want to build a dynamic and diverse class filled with students who will take full advantage of the resources available to them. In your why major essay, you should describe your future interests and show how the college will help you pursue them. Remember, college essays show admissions not only why you want to attend the school, but also why they should want you on campus!

What to avoid in your “Why Major” Essay

Just as the college essay examples shared common strengths, there are also some common weaknesses of why major essay examples. Here are some examples of things to avoid in your why major essay:

Don’t repeat your extracurricular activities list .

Your why major essay should be a focused response written in paragraph form rather than a list of accomplishments or resume. Some why major essay examples try to fit too many themes in one response. Basically, they end up rehashing their extracurricular activities list. Focus instead on subjects related to your intended major to create a cohesive response.

Don’t try to be someone you are not .

No college majors are inherently better than others. So, when writing your why major essay, write about your passions and interests rather than a major you think is more impressive. Remember that you will be pursuing your major over the course of four years. While it is possible to change your major later on, your why major essay should reflect your actual academic interests. Using your authentic voice to explain why you love your chosen major is the way to go! If you are undecided, see the next section for tips on how to write a why major essay as an undecided student.

Don’t wait until the last minute to start .

Good why major essay examples take time to create. So, be sure to leave yourself enough time to write multiple drafts and refine your work as needed. Take the time to thoroughly research the school and programs of interest. Additionally, allot time to edit your essay for spelling and grammar. You won’t be able to write a single why major essay and then send it to every college that requires one. You’ll need to tailor the essay for every school. This takes time–but, it’s what will make your essays stand out in the end!

Advice for Undeclared Majors

In the why did you choose this major examples we have seen so far, the writers have known their intended majors. However, even students who are undecided may have to write a why major essay. This does not mean you are committing to study a major you’re simply interested in. Students may change their major or add a second major once they get into the college. However, it is still important to write a focused and compelling essay that will help convince the college to admit you. 

Focus on what excites you.

First of all, think about a few different subjects that excite you. For example, you might be interested in math and computers, but aren’t sure if you want study a math, engineering, or computer science major. Or you may have a passion for learning languages but are unsure of which one to pursue as your major. Think about connecting your interests together to give the college a sense of what you want to do with your education, even if you have not landed on a specific major yet.

Emphasize your skills.

In addition, highlight your skills rather than a specific academic area. If, for example, you can showcase that you are an avid researcher, you can then apply those skills to any of the interests you bring to the table. Or perhaps you are a strong writer and might want to pursue a field where you can demonstrate that ability. You can talk about that in your why this major essay example. 

Remember that all the college essay examples we have seen so far include both references to the writer’s intended major and references to past experiences that have shaped that interest. For undecided majors, the why major essay is a chance to reflect on your skills and how to grow them in different ways.

More Why Major Essay Examples

You can never read too many why major essay examples when starting your college application journey. So, let’s take a look at our last why this major essay example written by a student with a clear major in mind.

Additional “Why Major” Essay Example

In the intricate tapestry of academic pursuits, the choice to major in politics holds a unique allure— a blend of curiosity, passion, and a desire to enact change. at its core, the study of politics offers a lens through which to examine the complexities of governance, power dynamics, and societal structures. but what drives someone to embark on this intellectual journey , for many, including myself, the decision to major in politics stems from a deeply personal connection to the world around them. growing up amidst the turmoil of war-torn colombia, i  witnessed firsthand the profound impact of political decisions on individuals and communities.  these experiences ignited within me a fervent desire to understand the mechanisms of power and to advocate for those marginalized by failed political systems. , yet, beyond personal experience, the allure of politics lies in its ability to foster critical thinking,  analytical skills, and a nuanced understanding of the human condition. through the study of political theory, comparative politics, and international relations, students are challenged to grapple with complex issues and develop innovative solutions to pressing global challenges. , moreover, a major in politics offers a gateway to a diverse array of career opportunities, ranging from public service and policy analysis to law, journalism, and advocacy. whether pursuing a career in government, nonprofit organizations, or the private sector, the skills gained through a political science education are invaluable in navigating the complexities of the modern world. , ultimately, the decision to major in politics is not merely about acquiring knowledge but about empowering oneself to effect positive change. it is about embracing the complexities of the political landscape and harnessing them as catalysts for innovation and progress. as i embark on this academic journey, i am inspired by the belief that through education, dedication, and a commitment to justice, we can build a brighter and more equitable future for all., why this essay worked.

This is the longest of the why this essay examples that we’ve seen. The student does an excellent job of taking advantage of the more generous word limit. First, we are captivated by the hook which is well written and certainly makes a politics major sound interesting. 

After simply introducing it as their major of choice in the first paragraph, the student goes on to explain how their background and experiences have inspired them to pursue this major. We learn a lot about the writer–namely that they’re from Colombia and grew up in a violent political climate. That first-hand experience certainly influenced the student’s choice of major. 

Interestingly enough, in this essay, the student doesn’t commit to specifying a career path. Rather, they allude to all the possible pathways they could take upon graduating with a major in politics. They don’t specify their future profession, as they probably aren’t sure of that yet. However, they do state the most important part of being a politics major to them: inciting positive change. In doing this, the reader knows that the student will likely be an active community participant on campus. Justice and equality is important to them. All of these pieces of the essay create an impressive picture for the reader.  

Optimizing your Why Major Essay – Tips and Tricks

These why did you choose this major essay examples may seem daunting to replicate. But, everyone has the ability to write a strong why major essay. The aim is not to copy the college essay examples we have gone over. Instead, they should serve as a guide from which to craft your own essay. Here are three final tips for optimizing your why major essay:

Read it out loud.

It may sound silly to sit down and read your own writing aloud. But, it is extremely helpful in the editing process. You may catch typos or incorrect grammar as you read, allowing you to polish the work so the reader isn’t distracted by mechanical errors. It is also easier to hear any awkward sentences or rough transitions when listening to your work. You can even get a parent or friend to be a reader or second listener.

Get feedback from trusted sources .

Once you have written your first draft, feel free to show it to parents, teachers, or trusted friends. They cannot and should not write your essay for you. However, they may be able to offer insights into your writing and ask thoughtful questions to guide you through the process. They may even be able to help you come up with a topic or decide what college majors you want to write about if you are undecided. Talking about your essay with others is a great way to overcome writer’s block and strengthen your overall response.

Seek out help from trained professionals .

The advisors at CollegeAdvisor.com have years of experience working with students on supplemental essays. Whether you’re writing a why major essay, why this college essay sample, or any other supplemental essay, our expert advisors can help you with every step of the process. From brainstorming topics to making final edits, they’re here to support you. They can even help you form a college list or decide what you might want to major in! College essays, and the college application process in general, can be overwhelming. Create an account to learn more about working with our team of advisors.

This article was written by senior advisor, Alex Baggott-Rowe . Looking for more admissions support? Click here to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. During your meeting, our team will discuss your profile and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how CollegeAdvisor.com can support you in the college application process.

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