BEAVERTON, Ore. — Some students in Beaverton are heading back to school on Monday. High schoolers will be able to sleep in a little later this school year.
The school district has pushed the start of school back an hour for high schoolers, from 7:45 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. The decision aligns with research showing high schoolers perform better later in the morning.
"I'm honestly really excited," said Kunzang Sharchitsang, a rising senior at Sunset High School. "It will be really beneficial for a lot of people."
The Beaverton School District announced the change last fall. Administrators also think the change could lead to significant benefits.
"Getting a little more sleep, starting school a little bit later means they're ready to learn when they get here," said Elisa Shorr, the principal of Sunset High School. "I would imagine we'll see kids talking to each other more, asking better questions. Just being ready for school. So we should see grades improve."
The American Academy of Pediatrics claims high school start times, beginning earlier than 8:30 a.m., contribute to insufficient sleep for teens. Those early starts significantly affect health, safety and academic successes of middle and high school students, pediatricians said.
“Research consistently shows that high school brains work better a little bit later," Schorr said.
Other districts in the Portland metro area have made similar moves. Years ago, Evergreen Public Schools in southwest Washington pushed back high school start times. Last year, Vancouver Public Schools did the same.
In Beaverton, the change means elementary schoolers will begin school 15 minutes earlier, so buses can stay on schedule. Though for younger kids, administrators claim the time change won’t make a difference.
"Research shows that for our elementary-aged kids, an earlier start doesn't have any impact on their academic achievement," said Sherry Marsh, the principal of Findley Elementary School.
Beaverton administrators said they have been working on the time change for years, before finally enacting it this fall.