Why Students Should Start Later In School

It has been debated whether a later start time in school would be beneficial to the students or not. While some believe changing the start time would fail to have an effect on anything (or even have negative consequences), others argue that students could have multiple benefits to a later start time. Later school start times positively affect students because they become more involved with school, decreases bad behaviors, and increases the moods of the children. One reason schools should start later is because of the importance of how students could more effortlessly become involved with school. By starting school later, it would allow students to score higher in their core classes because students are able to get more sleep, which results in increased performances (Wahlstrom 10). To further support this, Wahlstrom mentions in a study done in multiple different high schools, “Statistically significant increases in the 1st period grade point average in one or more core courses of English, math, social studies, and science with start times from 8:00-8:30 [in the morning]” (11). She then continues with, “Significant increases in grade point average in all 1st-period core courses for all semesters in all grades in Jackson Hole High School in Wyoming, with a start time of 8:55 [in the morning]” (11). This
Students may become more involved with school. They will decrease their bad behaviors. Not to mention the mood shift for the better. Many studies have all pointed to the same thing: later start times are much better for the students. Students will be able to sleep longer and feel much more well rested. That leads to all kinds of academic, mental, and behavioral benefits. Make schools better with just one simple step: delay the start time. By benefiting the students, the schools are raising a better generation and, therefore, a better future for all of