Sharon High School Profiled for Later School Start

Doctors are now suggesting for teenagers what Sharon High School have been practicing for the past five years – let the teenagers sleep a little later.

As WHDH reported, pediatricians are now recommending that high school should start later since students are more awake after 8 a.m.

“They are biologically program to fall asleep at 11 p.m. and wake up at 8 a.m. and that’s when they’re usually in their first period class,” Dr. Judith Owens of the Children’s National Medical Center told WHDH.

Sharon High School is about to enter their fifth year with an 8:05 start time, later than the 7:20 a.m. start initially used. Physics teacher Nivedi Das told the news station that she can see a huge difference starting 45 minutes later in the morning.

“I think it was a great idea. I noticed a huge difference when we switched to 8:05 a.m., even for myself. They’re much more awake even for the first block,” Das said.

Sharon High School principal Jose Libano said that the results of moving the start of school has helped students get to class on time, decreasing the amount of late students.

“Kids are livelier in the morning, they are not as tardy,” Libano said. “People realized over time this was the best decision for their children and their learning.”

Opponents of a later start time cite cost issues and a later dismissal time affecting time dedicated to sports, homework, and after school jobs.

Click see to see the video on WHDH.com