
Sleep is incredibly important for middle schoolers. It's been shown that teenagers need between eight to ten hours of sleep a night, but due to early school start times, many are getting far less than this. This lack of sleep can negatively impact their physical and mental health, as well as their performance at school. So, what can be done to help middle schoolers get the sleep they need?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Recommended amount of sleep | 8 to 10 hours per night |
| Average amount of sleep | 6 out of 10 middle schoolers and 7 out of 10 high schoolers do not get enough sleep |
| Impact of lack of sleep | Negative impact on physical and mental maturation, memory, concentration, and motivation |
| School start time | Schools are considering starting at 8:30 a.m. or later |
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What You'll Learn
- Lack of sleep negatively impacts physical and intellectual growth
- Tiredness affects memory, concentration and motivation
- Girls and people assigned female at birth are more likely to get insufficient sleep
- Older teens get less sleep than younger adolescents
- Black, Asian and multiracial teens are more likely to sleep less than eight hours a night

Lack of sleep negatively impacts physical and intellectual growth
Sleep is extremely important for middle schoolers, who are in a period of very fast physical, intellectual and emotional growth. Medical research shows that middle schoolers who don't get enough sleep are more likely to struggle in school. This is because a lack of sleep affects memory, concentration and motivation.
Middle schoolers need between 8 and 10 hours of sleep per night, but many are not getting this amount. This lack of sleep negatively impacts their physical and intellectual growth. It can also affect their mental health, with moodiness and excessive daytime sleepiness being common problems for middle schoolers who don't get enough sleep.
The problem is exacerbated by the early start times of many middle schools. Ideally, middle school would not start before 9am, but the current average start time in Michigan is 7:55am. This means that many middle schoolers are not getting enough sleep, which can have serious consequences for their health and well-being.
It is important for middle schoolers to prioritise sleep and to try to maintain a consistent sleep schedule, even during the summer holidays. This will help to ensure that they are getting the recommended amount of sleep and give them the best chance of succeeding in school and maintaining good physical and mental health.
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Tiredness affects memory, concentration and motivation
In the US, the recommended amount of sleep for middle schoolers is 8 to 10 hours per night. However, around 6 out of 10 middle schoolers do not get enough sleep. Surveys have found that teens who identify as Black, Asian or multiracial have the highest rates of sleeping less than eight hours per night.
To combat this, many middle and high schools are exploring the idea of starting school around 8:30 a.m. – the time recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
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Girls and people assigned female at birth are more likely to get insufficient sleep
Sleep is incredibly important for middle schoolers, who are in a time of very fast physical, intellectual and emotional growth. Medical research shows that middle schoolers who don't get enough sleep are more likely to struggle in school, as being tired affects memory, concentration and motivation.
In Michigan, the average high school start time is 7:55 a.m. However, ideally, high schoolers would not start school before 9 a.m. Many middle and high schools are exploring the idea of starting school around 8:30 a.m., which is the time recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
It's normal for teenagers to want to shift their sleep schedule during the summer, but it's important that they don't push bedtime too far past the one they had during the school year. This can make it more difficult for them to return to an appropriate school sleep schedule and can cause problems such as moodiness and excessive daytime sleepiness at the start of the school year.
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Older teens get less sleep than younger adolescents
Sleep is important for middle schoolers as they are in a time of very fast physical, intellectual and emotional growth. Medical research shows that teens who don't get enough sleep are more likely to struggle in school, as being tired affects memory, concentration and motivation.
The recommended amount of sleep for teens is 8 to 10 hours per night. However, many factors can affect how much sleep teens actually get. For example, teens may want to shift their sleep schedule during the summer, which can make it difficult to return to a regular sleep schedule when school starts again. Additionally, school start times can play a role, with some schools starting as early as 7:55 a.m., while the recommended start time is 8:30 a.m. or later.
It's important for teens to prioritize sleep, as insufficient sleep can have significant impacts on their health and well-being.
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Black, Asian and multiracial teens are more likely to sleep less than eight hours a night
Sleep is incredibly important for middle schoolers, who are going through a time of very fast physical, intellectual and emotional growth. Medical research shows that middle schoolers who don't get enough sleep are more likely to struggle in school. This is because being tired affects memory, concentration and motivation.
It's not just one night a week that middle schoolers are missing out on sleep – it's most nights. This is a serious health problem, as a lack of sleep negatively impacts teenagers' physical and mental maturation.
Research has found that Black, Asian and multiracial teens are more likely to sleep less than eight hours a night. This is a significant issue, as the recommended amount of sleep for teenagers is 8 to 10 hours per night. To combat this, many middle and high schools are considering starting school at 8:30 a.m. – the time recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. This would allow teenagers to get the sleep they need to support their health and development.
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Frequently asked questions
Middle schoolers need between eight to ten hours of sleep per night for their well-being. Sleep is essential for their physical and mental development.
Middle schoolers often have a natural tendency to stay up late due to their changing biological clocks. Obligations like early school start times, homework, extracurriculars, and social activities can also make it hard for them to get enough sleep.
Sleep-deprived middle schoolers don't learn as much and underperform in school. They may also experience problems such as moodiness and excessive daytime sleepiness.











































