Many middle and high school students have an aversion to first period classes but a new study suggests the earlier time slot may yield an academic benefit in math.
The new study in The Review of Economics and Statistics suggests students are more productive in the morning than in the afternoon, especially in math. University of Chicago researcher Nolan G. Pope looked at whether the scheduling of math and English courses affects grades and test scores for adolescents.
His study, “How the Time of Day Affects Productivity: Evidence from School Schedules,” examined the GPAs and standardized test scores of nearly 2 million students enrolled in grades 6 through 11 in the Los Angeles Unified School District. The students attended schools that began around 8 a.m. and ended at 3:10 p.m.
Among his findings: Students fared better in math classes held in the morning than the afternoon.
To read more about how the scheduling of a class could impact student performance, go to the AJC Get Schooled blog.
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