Over 70% of high school students don’t get enough sleep on school nights. Between demanding IB coursework, sports, and other extracurriculars, the 8am start time forces AHS students to function–poorly–on insufficient sleep. 452 out of 561 AHS students participate in a school sport, meaning that over 80% of students are juggling academics and demanding extracurriculars. Pushing back start time–like we did from 2021 to 2024–is an effective way to improve students’ outcomes and well-being.
According to the Aspen School Board, one of Aspen School District’s main goals is to raise test scores and student outcomes. Research consistently shows that earlier start times can do just this. A study conducted in Seattle found that when high schools delayed their start times by only an hour, grades rose by an average of 4.5%. Similarly, in Wake County, North Carolina, a one-hour delay led to an increase of 3 percentage points in math and reading test scores. Additionally, a 2017 study found that schools starting at 8:30 AM or later saw graduation rates jump from 79% to 88%. If Aspen wants to effectively improve learning and outcomes, a later start time is necessary..
Beyond grades and attendance, the benefits of more sleep extend to mental health and safety. Sleep deprivation is linked to higher rates of anxiety and depression, and an increase in car crashes involving teens. A study published by the National Library of Medicine showed that after implementing a one-hour delay in start time, the number of car crashes involving teenagers dropped by 16.5%. A later start time could improve mental health and driving safety for Aspen students. Furthermore, a later start time would also reduce the number of students driving to school on dark, icy roads in the winter.
Some argue that students should simply go to bed earlier, but biology makes that nearly impossible. Teenagers experience a natural shift in their circadian rhythm, meaning their bodies are wired to fall asleep later and wake up later in the morning. For young children, melatonin starts being released early in the evening, allowing for an earlier bedtime. As a person reaches puberty, however, melatonin production slows down drastically and starts being secreted later each night. When school starts at 8 AM, students are often waking up in the middle of their deepest sleep cycle, leaving them exhausted and unable to learn.
For Aspen students, the impact of more sleep is personal.
“The later start time gave me an opportunity to get my work done, but also get a healthy amount of sleep every night,” explains senior Eleanor Carroll, when asked which start time she preferred. “For students to actually have the energy and motivation for demanding commitments like sports and the IB diploma, they need enough sleep so they don’t burn out and lose their passion for what they’re doing.”
Junior Avila Jennings of AHS High School agreed, reflecting on previous years when school began later.
“When school started at 8:45, my sleep, health, and grades were so much better,” Jennings said. “It should go back [to 8:45] to being that.”
Sarah Daniels, a member of the Aspen School board, supports the idea of a later start time but often hears the opposing view in school board meetings. “The school district has to have a single efficient bus run due to the availability of drivers,” she explains. “Also, the increased traffic near Highlands during ski season poses an issue, with both ski traffic and school drop-off and pickup occurring at the same time on a single-lane road.”
Student deserve an education that does not come at the expense of their health. If the Aspen School Board’s goal is to improve test scores, boost well-being, and create a more balanced school day, starting later is imperative.
