Less Screen Time, More Real Time: Embracing a Phone-Free School Day

Sanford Upper School students began each morning of the 2024–2025 school year with a new ritual: parting with the devices that had long been their constant companions. Under a new policy introduced last fall, students hand over their phones to advisors during Morning Meeting and go through the day free from the pull of notifications and social media. Devices are returned after the final class at 2:55 PM.

With adolescents and adults alike increasingly tethered to their screens, Sanford’s decision was a bold one. The policy was informed by research on smartphones’ impact on adolescent mental health, social development, and academic performance, as well as concerns about classroom disruption. Upper School Head Abbi Smith noted that beyond the data, the shift was driven by something deeply visible. “Students were staring down at their phones, scrolling, and not interacting with each other during breaks and lunch,” she said. “It concerned all of the adults in our division to see this decline.”


 

After its first full year in place, the policy has had a noticeable effect on both students and teachers. While feedback has been mixed, more than half of the student survey respondents said they still disagree with the policy, but many have come to recognize its benefits. Teachers report more focused classrooms, stronger comprehension, and increased participation. Though students still use laptops and tablets for academic work, many teachers have designed device-free lessons to promote deeper focus and direct engagement with course material. A mid-year report from the Upper School administration described classrooms as “more focused and productive,” with student responses reinforcing this sentiment.

“I’ve never been so focused outside of class; every time I’m without my phone, I’m very productive,” one student shared in the survey. The social benefits have been powerful. Without phones to retreat into, students are rediscovering the value of face-to-face interaction. Lunchtime conversations are more animated. Hallways feel livelier. Spontaneous games of basketball, volleyball, and cornhole are now a regular part of campus life.

Upper School Counselor Sarah Satinsky noted that these shifts are more than just surface-level. “Teens are wired to need and crave positive social interactions,” she said. “Limiting cell phones during the day creates space for more authentic, connected experiences.”

To support students in the transition, the Upper School introduced inviting common areas, including cozy reading nooks, a basketball hoop, and outdoor games that encourage movement and connection.

For many students, the change wasn’t easy at first. Macy Macleod ’27 recalled feeling frustrated at the beginning of the year. “Back when I was in middle school, it seemed like having phones in Upper School was a privilege,” she said. “It was something we looked forward to, so it felt disappointing to lose that privilege, and at first, it felt like we had done something wrong." In time, however, she changed her perspective. “It’s made me more present within the community at Sanford and has helped me stay on task during the school day.”

 

Abigail Smith ’26, who gives campus tours as part of Sanford’s Student Ambassador Program, said the policy often surprises visiting families. “They often comment on how their children are distracted by their phones at home and wish their schools had a similar policy,” she said.

Concerns about safety were carefully considered from the start. The Upper School updated its crisis procedures to include outdoor sweeps during drills and is planning to install additional emergency speakers. During both safety drills this year, all students were accounted for within minutes. Looking ahead, the Upper School remains committed to maintaining a phone-free environment.

While some students still miss the convenience of having their phones, many are discovering unexpected benefits.

“Knowing that I can go a whole day without my phone has shown me that I don’t need it as much as I thought,” said Abigail Smith ’26. “It’s something I’ll take with me to college and beyond.”

Disconnected from their devices, students are finding new ways to connect with each other, and themselves. One teacher shared a favorite moment: a student excitedly reporting that he had exchanged phone numbers with a classmate—on paper.

In a time when so much of teen life is shaped by screens, Sanford’s students are learning that sometimes, the best connections happen when you unplug.