by Michael Aderholdt (Posted on October 27, 2026 @ 12:54 p.m.)

Alamo Heights Junior School starts at 8:40 a.m., but students, parents and teachers are questioning whether that gives middle schoolers enough time to get the sleep they need. Although there is no official proposal to change the school’s start time, research on teenage sleep has raised questions about whether AHJS students would benefit from starting school later.

Advantages of a Later Start Time

Research suggests that later school start times can help students focus, improve their grades and increase attendance. Children ages 11 to 13 generally need nine to 12 hours of sleep per night at age 11 and eight to 10 hours at ages 12 and 13, according to age-based sleep recommendations.

For some AHJS student-athletes, balancing early morning practices with homework makes getting enough sleep difficult.

“I’m not really thinking about my answers, and that really affects my brain,” student-athlete James Lincoln said.

Lincoln said his morning football practices make it difficult to get enough sleep. He often struggles to finish his homework, which puts him behind in class.

Other student-athletes face similar challenges.

“Practices are early in the morning so when I get home, I can’t finish my homework or study. Putting me behind in class,” student-athlete Ross McGlothlin said.

A later start time could give students more opportunities to sleep. Research published in Pediatrics has connected adequate sleep with improved concentration, problem-solving, attendance and academic performance.

“I think sleep and nutrition would help kids a lot,” AHJS coach and teacher Mr. Wogstad said.

Getting enough sleep is also important for athletes because it supports energy, awareness, stamina and physical recovery.

Beyond academic performance, additional sleep could improve students’ moods in the classroom.

“When I have good sleep, I feel better and I am in a better mood in the classroom,” student-athlete Houston Siedlik said.

Research on sleep and student well-being has linked adequate rest with better emotional regulation, concentration, problem-solving and classroom participation. Students who are well-rested may be more prepared to participate in lessons and manage challenges throughout the school day.

Sleep also plays an important role in helping athletes recover from physical activity.

Student-athlete Tate Nelson said getting enough sleep helps him feel better when he is sore or injured after football practice. When he does not get enough sleep, he notices that his soreness feels worse.

Research published in 2023 and indexed in PubMed suggests that sleep supports growth, tissue repair and recovery in teenage athletes.

Inadequate sleep may also increase the risk of sports-related injuries.

A 2014 study indexed in PubMed found that adolescent athletes who regularly slept fewer than eight hours per night were more likely to report injuries than those who slept at least eight hours.

“Athletes who slept on average less than 8 hours per night were 1.7 times more likely to have had an injury compared with athletes who slept for 8 hours or more,” orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist Matthew D. Milewski said in the published research.

Attendance and punctuality could also improve with a later start time.

A 2016 research review by health researcher Anne G. Wheaton and her colleagues examined the relationship between school start times and student outcomes.

“Later start times also generally correspond to improved attendance, less tardiness,” the researchers reported.

Students who arrive at school on time and attend classes regularly have more opportunities to participate in lessons, complete assignments and stay on track academically.

Downsides of a Later Start Time

Although a later start time could provide several benefits, it could also create challenges for students, families and school activities.

One concern is that starting school later could mean ending the school day later, leaving students with less time for homework, extracurricular activities and relaxation.

“It would make them get home a lot later, because buses already take a while to get home anyway,” Lincoln said.

Students who already have busy afternoon schedules could find it more difficult to balance schoolwork, sports and personal responsibilities.

A later dismissal could also interfere with clubs and athletics.

“I like having time in the evenings, especially with sports and stuff like that,” Wogstad said.

If school ended later, sports practices and club meetings might also have to begin later. This could make it more difficult for students to participate, particularly those who have transportation challenges or other commitments after school.

Another concern involves families whose parents leave for work before their children need to get ready for school.

With a later start time, some students might have to wake up, prepare for school and arrange transportation without a parent at home.

“I think a lot of times, the parents would have already gone to work. By that time, the kids would be responsible for getting themselves here by themselves. And if there was bad weather or they just decided to sleep in, then they might just not show up,” Wogstad said.

For younger students who depend on their parents to help them get ready in the morning, this change could create additional challenges.

Athletic schedules could also be affected, particularly during the fall and winter when daylight hours are shorter.

“You start playing football in the dark, kids can get hurt, you know, all kinds of things can happen,” AHJS Principal Dr. Guthrie said.

If practices or games were pushed later into the evening, schools might have to make adjustments to ensure students could participate safely. Games that end later could also make it more difficult for families to attend.

These concerns show that changing a school’s start time involves more than simply adjusting the morning bell. Transportation schedules, family routines and extracurricular activities would also need to be considered.

Finding a Balance

Although AHJS has no official plans to change its start time, research suggests that adequate sleep can improve students’ academic performance, mood, concentration and physical recovery.

However, starting school later could also create challenges involving transportation, family schedules, clubs and athletics.

For AHJS, the question is whether the potential benefits of additional sleep would outweigh the scheduling difficulties a later start time could create.

For now, students like Lincoln will continue balancing early morning practices, homework and the challenge of getting enough rest before anot