School Start Times: Early Is the Norm for Nation's Middle and High Schools

Although the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the school day begin no earlier than 8:30 a.m. for middle and high school students, the average school start time for public middle and high schools was an earlier 8:03 in the 2011-12 school year. Only 18 percent of the nation's middle and high schools started the day at 8:30 a.m. or later.

By state, average start times ranged from 7:40 a.m. in Louisiana to 8:31 in North Dakota and 8:33 in Alaska. The percentage of schools with 8:30 a.m. or later start times ranged from none in Hawaii, Mississippi, and Wyoming to 77 percent in Alaska and 78.5 percent in North Dakota.

Source: CDC, School Start Times for Middle School and High School Students—United States, 2011-12 School Year