Erin Seibert is a stand out student in the 9th grade. The Bothell teen is used to getting A's. But she spends three hours a night on homework. If she has to study for a test, it can be as much as five.

"It very stressful, a lot of times I find myself thinking 'I have so much to do, I'm never going to get it all done,'" says Seibert.

Her family knows the heavy load is preparing Erin for college, but at what cost?

"We try to have her in bed by 9:30 or 10 p.m. That gives her barely eight hours of sleep. But sometimes that just doesn't happen. She's up much later than that - trying to finish everything," explains her mom, Linda Seibert.

Studies show that kids who do more homework also do better on standardized tests and get better grades.

At Sequoia Junior High in Kent, students get homework every day, in every class, even in Physical Education.

"We believe our community wants our kids to have the work ethic of homework," says Principal Bev Duff. "We know there is a direct correlation between homework and better grades and doing better in school."

But at Sequoia Junior High, the school puts a limit on homework.

"It's not like an overload of homework. I have time to do other things besides homework," says 9th grader Briane Asmore.

Teachers are expected to assign no more than 15 to 20 minutes of home work a night.

8th grader Alex Longmire says, "The teachers help you a lot, so most of time we get a lot of it done in class."

The national P.T.A. recommends 10 minutes of homework per grade level. For example: 3rd grade/30 minutes, 9th grade/90 minutes.

A new study says homework overload is a myth, and that kids who spend hours each night on school work are the exception - not the norm.

A report by the Brown Center on Education found that the typical student in the U.S. spends less than one hour a night on homework.

That's the case at the Adjerlolo home in Shoreline where homework is a priority. "It gives them that knowledge that learning doesn't stop at school," says mom, Kendahl Adjerlolo.

Their daughter Keely and son Maoulay do most if their homework in class and on the bus. By the time they get home there's usually less than an hour of work.

"It's enough of a challenge, but I don't feel it's too much," says Maoulay, a 6th grader.

Their parents know the load will increase as the kids get older. But they believe homework teaches time management and instils a good work ethic.

"That's how they learn the world around them, through their homework. So they have to do it," says their father Alain Adjerlolo.

For those who still feel overwhelmed, King County Libraries started addressing the homework pressures three years ago with Study Zone. The program offers free tutoring now to several thousand kids looking for help.

"The trick for the Study Zone has been getting the word out to let the kids know the service is available to them. Once it does, it's a boom and we have to quickly add more tutors to keep up with the number of kids coming in," says Study Zone Coordinator, Annie Holloman.

Erin Seibert plows through on her own, putting in double what the National PTA recommends, and sometimes triple.

"I see why we have a lot of homework, but sometime we just have so much. It seems unnecessary," says Seibert.

Between piano and homework there's time for little else, even friends.

She can only hope it all pays off in three years, when it comes time to apply for college.