In the United States there is a popular stereotype that high school juniors are often very sleep deprived. Despite research which points to the fact that students in the United States consistently do not get enough sleep, research specific to grade levels has not yet occurred. Sleep deprivation has been known to have many negative health effects. A possible cause of this lack of sleep is stress related to each high school grade level and the responsibilities and pressures they take on. For example, junior year tends to be the year that is believed to be most important to colleges, which often causes students to take on a strenuous workload, which ultimately cuts into their time for sleep. Perhaps a study which investigates whether there is a correlation between grade level and sleep quality could lead to a definitive answer on this issue. 

In order to support all students in all stages of their high school careers, schools need to have sufficient information in relation to their well-being. If any correlation is found between students' grade levels and their sleep quality, then steps can be taken to help support students during times that they can be predicted to be getting lower quality sleep. This will ultimately contribute to a greater sense of well-being for students. 

Grace Brown

browngra002@stu.sumnersd.org

If I track the sleep quality of students using a sleep quality index and compare the results by grade level, then I predict there will be a significant difference between each grade level's sleep quality because of the differences in workload between grades.  

Students grade levels are defined by what graduating class they are in.

Class of 2020: 12th grade

Class of 2021: 11th grade

Class of 2022: 10th grade

Class of 2023: 9th grade

*students repeating grade levels are included in the grade they are on track to graduate with

IRB-approved sleep quality index, with the added component of grade level.