The Toll of a 7 A.M. Start Time: How Does This Impact High School Students and Teachers?

Here at Coronado High School, the commencing bell rings at 7:00 a.m., forcing students to begin their school day before sunrise for most of the year. While some claim to not mind it, research– and student and teacher experiences–suggest that such an early start time may do more harm than good.

“I think it [pushing back the school start time] would allow students to get more sleep, which would improve our ability to focus and think in class,” said Olivia Larson, 11. “It would also allow students to spend more time in the mornings for themselves and on prep work.”

According to studies from the reputable sources American Psychological Association and National Institute of Health, later school start times correlate with improved mood, better attendance and grades, and even fewer car crashes. To go along with this, many students on average do not get a sufficient amount of sleep every night due to factors like extracurricular activities, sports, their jobs, and homework. 

“If students are too tired, they tend to be less efficient with their time. I also notice greater delays in responses,” Ms. Sawaya, the Coronado French teacher, said. 

Not only would it be beneficial to students to push back start times, but also it would help out teachers as well. When asked about how the potential time change would affect her personally, Sawaya had lots to say.

“I notice a huge difference in my performance having to be up so early,” she states. “Getting up when it's dark affects everything from my mood to my own productivity throughout the day. Also, when my kids have activities after school, it is actually very challenging to get home in time to go to bed early enough to get an adequate night of sleep. I really hope we switch back to the later start. That would definitely be a game changer in the best way.”

Ms. Sawaya’s thoughts are incredibly valuable to this point in particular, considering she is a teacher advocating for a later start time. Many students can tell you how much they’d love to start school at 8:00 a.m.; however, it is rarer for a teacher to express similar feelings. Her statement about her kids’ extracurriculars is relatable to many students who go through the same thing on a daily basis with activities like sports or performing arts. A later start time would likely benefit all people who work for and attend Coronado High School, as factors like getting an adequate amount of sleep are so important to performance. When asked about how she thinks this change in CCSD policy would personally impact her, Larson expressed positive emotions.

“This would allow me to maintain a good sleep schedule and get more sleep, especially because I am always up late doing homework and studying,” she said. “It would help me be able to be more productive in the morning before school. It would also help improve my focus throughout the day.” 

Overall, many teachers and students alike who are advocating for a later start time all agree that it would only be beneficial for all parties. Even if we started at 8 a.m., that extra hour could change the way people at Coronado would perform. It could aid in the prevention of car accidents. It could improve grades. It could change the way our students (who are in the prime period for physical and cerebral) literally develop, physically and mentally. Come on, Clark County School District–you have to admit that it’s worth giving it thought. Fill out this survey to make a difference!

Rise ‘n Shine!//Blaring at 7:00 a.m., the bell rings for first period at Coronado High School. Students groggily trudge along to school, most of them barely arriving on time. (Photo by Audrey Hamatake)