Students wake up every morning when it’s still dark outside. They try to set their alarm as late as possible but always end up rushing to get to school on time. They arrive half-asleep during the first block. This daily routine has become normal for everyone, but it shouldn’t be. Teenagers need more sleep in order to stay healthy and maintain strong attention during class.

Schools should start later because students learn better, stay healthier, and feel less stressed when they get enough sleep.

María Escandón, a senior at The Columbus School, shared how early mornings affect her performance and focus. “What happens to me many times is that during first block I’m usually very tired and that really impacts my ability to concentrate during class. I have a really hard time paying attention, and many times when I get tests or very important and heavy assignments in first block, it’s really hard for me to do them.” María’s experience shows how difficult it is for students to perform at their best when they are exhausted so early in the morning. She believes that if school started later, she could concentrate better and be more productive.

Teenagers’ bodies naturally want to sleep and wake up later because of their biological clock. School counselor Andrés Rendón explained that teens need more rest and that their energy levels increase later in the day. He shared that most students arrive half-asleep: “I’ve noticed that you all arrive here asleep, that most students arrive hooded, tired… it’s like they’re not yet engaged in the learning process.” His experience as a counselor shows that early schedules do not match how teenagers’ brains and bodies function best.

This aligns with research from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), which found that adolescents struggle to fall asleep early due to natural biological rhythms. The AASM recommends that schools start at 8:30 a.m. or later to match teens’ sleep cycles. According to their studies, students who get 8–10 hours of sleep perform better academically, maintain stronger focus, and experience better emotional health. Later start times not only boost learning but also reduce anxiety, depression, and even car accidents caused by drowsiness.

The AASM reports that most middle and high schools begin too early for teenagers to reach the recommended amount of sleep. Schools that start before 8:30 a.m. make it nearly impossible for students to get 8–10 hours of rest, leading to poor focus, mood changes, and lower grades. Sleep loss doesn’t only affect learning—it harms mental health and increases the risk of anxiety and depression.

Students like María experience these effects every day. “When I’m tired in first block I usually bring a coffee to school, and when I feel like I’m falling asleep, I drink really cold water to help wake me up,” she said. She also explained that a later start time would significantly help: “The only solution is to have school start later. That would impact my schedule because I would wake up later, and it would really increase my sleep.” Her experience reflects what science has already proven: teenagers’ natural sleep cycles differ from adults’, and forcing them to start school early works directly against their biology. The AASM makes it clear that later start times help students learn better, stay safer, and feel healthier overall.

Some people argue that starting school later could interfere with parents’ work schedules or after-school activities. But schools could adjust transportation or sports schedules slightly to make it work. The benefits—better academic performance, improved mental health, and safer, more focused students—far outweigh the inconvenience.

If schools truly want to help students learn and grow, they must listen to science. Teenagers need more sleep, not more stress. By starting school later, we give students the chance to be healthier, happier, and more focused. It’s time to wake up to the problem of early start times and make a change that benefits all students.