In a world where it’s normalized to get less than 8 hours of sleep, this begs the question of how sleep affects academic performance for students? It’s not unheard of for many students in high school or even middle school, going to bed as late as midnight, with students getting up at 7:00am! Lets dive into why students are going to bed so late, how sleep affects academic performance, and how parents can combat this!
Why Are Students Going to Bed Late?
In order to stand out on college applications, many high school students are pushed to take AP classes and after school activities. threepennypress.org is quoted saying:
High schoolers reported doing an average of 2.7 hours of homework per weeknight, according to a study by the Washington Post from 2018 to 2020 of over 50,000 individuals. A survey of approximately 200 Bellaire High School students revealed that some students spend over three times this number.
With this data, students are expected to have 4 or more hours of homework per night during the week. This in conjunction with after school activities makes it near impossible for students to go to bed on time. Many students participate in activities such as after school clubs, sports, etc. With most schools ending the day at 2 or 3 pm, this means students can only begin working on homework at 5pm or later. When factoring in other things such as: family time, relaxation, jobs, etc, it trims down on the amount of time students truly have. It’s not unheard of for many students to experience burn out because of this.
Is 6 Hours Enough Sleep for a Student?
hopkinsmedicine.org stated:
So how much sleep is enough? According to Johns Hopkins pediatrician Michael Crocetti, M.D., M.P.H. , teens need 9 to 9½ hours of sleep per night—that’s an hour or so more than they needed at age 10. Why? “Teenagers are going through a second developmental stage of cognitive maturation,” explains Crocetti. Additional sleep supports their developing brain, as well as physical growth spurts. It also helps protect them from serious consequences like depression or drug use
So not only is 6 hours not enough sleep for a student, it actively works against the student’s health. It’s imperative during high school for students to get the rest they need. Not doing so leads to not only burn out, but depression, anxiety, declining physical health and more. All of these factors also contribute negatively to a student’s academic performance at school. Student’s who only have 6 hours of sleep are less likely to be focused in class. Teachers may find these students distancing themselves, falling asleep in class, not turning in assignments and more!
How Sleep Affects Academic Performance
Many students enter high school with a lack of executive functioning skills. these skills are essential for student success in high school and beyond. In a gist, executive functioning refers to a student’s ability to organize, plan, and adapt. It’s most commonly referred to as a student’s ability to manage one’s management. Being able to balance your life and school is necessary for future success. This is especially true for students looking to go on to college or university after graduation.
Many students are conditioned to believe that 6 hours of sleep is enough. While they may feel this way, in reality, this is their body growing accustomed to a lack of consistent sleep. It can be a trap for many and set bad habits going forward for students. So how can you fix your sleeping schedule then? Let’s discuss 3 different options:
1. Set Boundaries with School Work
Having clear boundaries with school work helps with a healthier school/life balance. As students enter high school, many will fill up their schedules with extracurricular activities, advanced classes, and work. It becomes increasingly difficult for students to manage their lives at this time. For many, it will start to feel like a ‘trial by fire’.
While some students may burn out, others may begin sacrificing necessities like sleep or free time to accommodate their busy schedules. Ultimately, this forges an unhealthy relationship with school. It can associate negative feelings like anxiety and depression with school work. Encouraging your student to take breaks is a great way to avoid these feelings. In addition, it teaches students that it’s important to set a clear boundary with their school work.
2. Limit Screen Time
For many students, their phones have become a constant crutch during free time. While having a phone isn’t a bad thing, using it before bed can decrease a student’s desire for sleep. Limiting screen time before bed is a great way to help students get back on track with their sleeping schedules! Encouraging students to spend their last 30 minutes before bed without a device can help ease phone-created insomnia.
3. Avoid Caffeine in the Evenings
It’s common for many students to drink caffeine into the late hours of the evening. It goes without saying that this can become a huge detriment to a student’s ability to get to bed on time. Even drinking caffeine right after school can have an impact later on in the night. Encouraging your student to restrict their caffeine intake will not only help them with getting better quality sleep, but it helps build healthy habits going forward!
Meet Your Online Private School!
Here at Tenney School Live, we prioritize our student academic experience over everything! Through our synchronous program, all of our students meet one-on-one with their teachers! This means the pace of the curriculum and classroom is dictated by the student. We highly recommend inquiring if you’re interested in hearing how we’re the right school for you!
Frequently Asked Questions
Our online school offers rigorous and personalized education programs for students in grades 5-12. We also offer college-level courses for upper-level high school students to begin earning college credits while still in high school. The school’s curriculum is designed to challenge students and prepare them for college and beyond.
We offer a wide range of courses for students of all ages and skill levels. We provide core classes in Math, Science, English, History, and more. Consider the following list of core classes from middle to high school.
| English | Science | History | Math |
| Eng 6 | Sci 6 | World History | Math 6 |
| Eng 7 | Life Sci | Texas History | Pre-Alg or Math 7 |
| Eng 8 | IPC or Earth Sci | US History | Alg I or Pre-Alg |
| Eng I | Biology | World Geography | Geom or Alg I |
| Eng II | Chem or Env Sci | World History | Alg II or Geom |
| AP Eng III or Eng III | Physics or Chem | AP US History or US History | Pre-Cal or Alg II |
| AP Eng IV or Eng IV | AP Env Sci or Physics | US Government & Economics | AP Calculus or Pre-Cal |
We also offer credit classes in subjects such as Spanish, Music, and Art, as well as specialized programs such as SAT/ACT test prep and college readiness courses to help students excel academically.
Our tuition structure is based on a semester system, with each semester consisting of 20 weeks of instruction. The cost varies depending on the grade level and number of courses taken, but we strive to keep our prices reasonable and transparent. Consider the following tuition payment schedule.
| Semester Cost | Full Year Cost | |
| Math | $2,200 | $4,400 |
| Social Studies | $2,200 | $4,400 |
| Science | $2,200 | $4,400 |
| English | $2,200 | $4,400 |
| Spanish | $2,200 | $4,400 |
| Art | $500 | $1,000 |
| Music | $500 | $1,000 |
We offer various payment plans to accommodate different financial situations. Additionally, we provide financial aid options for families in need. At Tenney School Live, we are committed to making quality education affordable for all students.
Yes, Tenney School Live is an accredited school that provides high-quality education to students in a virtual learning environment. The school is accredited by Cognia.
This accreditation ensures that we meet rigorous academic standards when providing courses. With this accreditation, parents can be confident that their child will receive a reputable education and easily transfer credits to other schools. Being an accredited school also allows Tenney School Live to offer courses that count towards college credit, giving students an advantage in their future academic pursuits.
Looking for more information about our online school? Please fill out our form to schedule a meeting.
Yes. TSL delivers accredited coursework through The Tenney School and meets TEA-aligned academic standards.
Exact funding levels will be set in early 2026. Most families will receive around $11,000, which covers much of TSL’s tuition.
Students with IEPs may receive significantly more.
Yes—pending final rule confirmation—TEFA funds can be used for a range of eligible educational expenses.
No. TEFA is available only to Texas residents.
No. But you will need one completed to qualify for the higher special-education award amounts.
The Texas Education Freedom Account (TEFA) is a state program that provides eligible families up to $10,000 in annual education funding for private or online school options.
No. TEFA is a Texas-specific hybrid program. It works like an Education Savings Account but includes priority eligibility groups and funding tiers based on student needs.
Yes. Accredited online private schools, including Tenney School Live, meet TEFA eligibility requirements.
Most families will receive around $10,000 per year. Students with documented special needs may receive higher funding tiers.
Their funding may return to the pool and be reassigned, creating a second wave of TEFA awards. Online schools like Tenney School Live can often accept mid-year placements.
