There is a study suggesting the delay of the start of school to help middle school students get more sleep that is needed.
NBC reported, according to researchers from Children's National Health System, an 8 a.m. start time, as compared to a 7:20 a.m. start time, yields an average of 17 more minutes of sleep per weeknight for middle schoolers despite them going to bed 15 minutes later. This extra time resulted in students feeling less tired and more attentive in the classroom.
This was a study of nearly 1,000 seventh and eighth-graders at 11 middle schools in the United States.
"Helping teens catch up on sleep is a public health priority since it's critical to their ability to stay alert in the classroom, on the sports field, and behind the driver's wheel, which boosts academic performance and prevents injuries," said Dr. Lewin.