It’s 7:30 AM at New Providence High School, and half the students walking through the doors are running on less than six hours of sleep, far below what experts say they need to succeed academically.
A health study done by Cornell Health, found that “Sleep is a necessity, not a luxury. Your top performance (academic, athletic, etc.) – and your emotional health and well-being (self-esteem, confidence, and social relationships) – depend on adequate sleep.”
They also said “At Cornell, nearly 25% of students surveyed indicate that lack of sleep is an impediment to their academic performance.”
So, most of the students that lack sleep do have a weaker learning ability. This means one in four Cornell students directly link sleep deprivation to poor academic outcomes.
Harvard University also conducted a study about sleep for college and high school students in 2022. They found that: “If you are well rested, you will experience less daytime sleepiness and fatigue. You may need less caffeine to stay awake during those long lectures. And you will also find you are more productive, more attentive to detail, and able to concentrate better while studying.”
Students ages 14-17 need about eight to ten hours of sleep, and ages 18-25 need between seven and nine hours of sleep per night. Around 75% of high school students get between seven and seven and a half hours of sleep per night, and 96% of high school students get less than eight hours of sleep per night.
Two freshman students at NPHS, Paige Duncan and Audrey Carovillano, agreed with the findings of the studies.
Duncan who averages about 7 hours of sleep a night said when she gets a good rest “I’m definitely more awake in school, and able to focus better.”
Carovillano who also averages around 7 hours a night said: “When I get more sleep, I’m in a better mood and I have a better morning.”
Both Duncan and Carovillano agreed that the less sleep they get, the less work they do and the more drained they are, whereas the more they get, the better their mood and academic performance.
One of the reasons they might not get enough sleep? Homework seems to be a big contributor.
Overall, high school students depend on sleep for better academic performance and health. The research recommends high school students get 8-10 hours of sleep nightly, yet most students report getting far less during the school week.