Photo: Light was an important consider at St. Thomas University鈥檚 Schoenecker Center for STEAM, which was featured as Facility of the Month in January. | Photo Credit (all): Brandon Stengel
By Evelyn Long
Maintaining healthy sleep-wake cycles helps kids stay alert, recall information and feel eager to learn. The associated behavioral benefits linked to a good night鈥檚 rest can support children in having productive relationships with their teachers and demonstrating the motivation to excel during tests and projects.
Professionals overseeing school designs should understand the connections between the body鈥檚 circadian rhythms 鈥� which regulate daily sleepiness and wakefulness 鈥� and learners鈥� outcomes.
The Impact of Circadian Rhythms on Learning Potential
Over the past 25 years, hundreds of schools in the United States have established later start times to align with sleep-wake cycles. Administrators did so after a growing body of research showed students whose school days match their circadian rhythms are more likely to feel energized and pay attention in classes, mutually benefiting themselves and teachers.
Kyla Wahlstrom is an educational policy researcher at the University of Minnesota who has studied the effects of school day timing since the 1990s. 鈥淎dolescent health is start times. This isn鈥檛 a silver bullet to improve test scores. It鈥檚 a public health policy,鈥� Wahlstrom said.
A 2025 study supported Wahlstrom鈥檚 assertion by revealing that adolescents perform better on cognitive tasks when they sleep longer. Although the investigation did not find a direct link with school achievements, the most each night did best on tests examining vocabulary, problem-solving skills, reading and focus.
Subjects in that group got an average of seven hours and 25 minutes of sleep per night and tended to go to bed and fall asleep earlier than their counterparts. In contrast, people in the two segments that scored lower slept up to 15 minutes less than the top performers. The result suggests even modest shifts supporting students鈥� ideal circadian rhythm cycles could facilitate learning readiness.
Additionally, a 2023 study of Australian students at a facility with 250 day attendees and 59 boarding school residents found those in the latter group , likely due to a structured routine that restricts nighttime technology use. This outcome emphasizes the need for adult involvement in developing appropriate sleep-wake cycles.
Blackout curtains can due to light sensitivity, while a familiar bedtime routine establishes consistency.
Applying Strategic Design Choices in Schools
School design and construction professionals can promote healthy sleep-wake cycles through strategic decisions.
Increasing Natural Light
Many classrooms only have artificial lighting. However, designing them to boost natural light through features such as floor-to-ceiling windows facilitates the sleep-wake cycle.
Mohamed Boubekri is an architecture professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign who focuses on buildings鈥� impact on human health. 鈥淢y studies, as well as many others, have shown that we could be losing of sleep per night because of not having natural light in our workplaces or our classrooms,鈥� Boubekri explains.
In a study of Egyptian classrooms, researchers to investigate the impact on daylight illuminance and its effects on occupants. Those changes improved light distribution, minimized glare, and enhanced illumination in previously dark areas during critical working hours. The results showed the enhancements achieved effective circadian exposure levels for students, supporting their learning performance and health goals.
Designing Spaces for Intended Purposes
Those creating learning environments should consider how people use the room and shape their decisions accordingly. A naptime area for a preschool might feature smart lights that gradually dim to encourage kids to slumber and a soft color palette to promote relaxation.
Alternatively, bright hues , making them ideal for playgrounds and classrooms. Stylistic decisions can naturally signal when people should calm down or become more focused, depending on what particular parts of their school days require.
Installing Human-Centric Lighting
Human-centric lighting gradually shifts the illumination intensity and temperature, personalizing it to the time of day. This approach is ideal in buildings lacking abundant natural light.
A systematic academic literature review of the subject indicated it aligns with circadian rhythms. Applying it can and help them sleep better at night. Additionally, light levels tailored to activities can increase performance and comfort.
Reducing Blue Light Exposure
Fluorescent and incandescent bulbs emit highly concentrated blue light wavelengths in the 400-450 nanometer range, as does the sun. However, humans鈥� exposure to this type of visible light is higher than ever due to their use of screen-based electronics, which are also characterized by high amounts.
Christopher S. Colwell, a neuroscientist and professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at the University of California, Los Angeles, explains why frequent screen use can disrupt sleep. Colwell mentions how light detectors in human retinas influence the hypothalamus, a part of the brain that controls hormones. 鈥淭heir only job is to it鈥檚 day or night,鈥� he says. 鈥淎nd it turns out this system is most sensitive to blue/green wavelengths.鈥�
Screens placed around schools to announce upcoming trips, deadlines and lunch menus give a high-tech look and eliminate disposable signs. However, they increase overall blue light exposure, making it harder for students to wind down at night. Designing screen-free environments supports sleep quality, helping learners wake up more refreshed.
Supplementing Design Decisions with Behavior Changes
School designs are essential, but the overall effects become more noticeable when educators suggest that parents and guardians make changes at home to support circadian rhythms. Similarly, construction officials engaging with families at meetings about upcoming projects should position this information as helpful to everyone, increasing adults鈥� willingness to alter schedules and behaviors and set good examples.
Evelyn Long is a commercial interior design writer with specialized expertise in accessible, ADA-friendly spaces and designing environments that support mental health and inclusivity.