The Correlation Between Later School Start Times and High School Athletes’ Athletic Performances

Research on the positive and negative effects that school start times can have on a high school student athlete’s athletic performance depending on how early or late they start school faces a significant gap in research. Research has shown that early school start times are a major cause of sleep deprivation in student athletes as well as how it can cause a decline in one's athletic performance. This study aims to determine the correlation between later school start times and student athletes’ athletic performances. Based on many literature reviews, correlational research was chosen to be able to determine the relationship between the two variables, school start times and high school student athletes’ athletic performances. The latter is determined based on a school’s winning percentage for one of the seven varsity sports. Analysis of the relationship between the two variables demonstrated that for 6 out of the 7 sports, there was a positive correlation between later school start times and greater athletic performances in high school student-athletes. The results indicate that later school start times have a positive effect on high school-student athletes in the case of their athletic performances. In view of this, it is suggested that schools look to push back school start times in order to give all student athletes, regardless of what school or school district they come from, an equal playing field when competing. Further research is needed to determine whether this correlation between the two variables is still apparent when analyzing non-clear-cut win sports.