The researchers at Northwestern University don’t think so.  Students lose as much as two hours of sleep per night during the week, leading them to make up for it on the weekends.  Not only do high schoolers need more sleep, but perhaps we should examine the timing of their most challenging classes.  Adolescents are at their best in the afternoon hours, according to the study, so maybe Advanced Placement Biology should not be their first class of the day.

Northwestern University researchers share some insightful results with us in this press release.  They advocate that we adults take a harder look at the natural circadian rhythms of high school students, which could have profound effects on how school days are structured.  High schoolers do not perform at their best in the mornings, and most standardized tests start at 8AM.  When these students sleep in during the weekend, many parents assume they are “slacking off,” when they are really just making up for lost sleep from the previous week.  This is a different approach for parents and educators, and gives us something to ponder as we shape our adolescents’ lives.