Top 20 Best Public High Schools In the US 2024/2025 Top 20 Best Public High Schools In the US 2024/2025
2024-25 School Year Calendar in the United States - School Days Per Year 2024-25 School Year Calendar in the United States - School Days Per Year

The federal government of the United States has very little authority over education. Since each state has its own system of educational leadership, the majority of decisions pertaining to education are made at the state level. As a result, a child's attendance at school is influenced by their residence. What you should know is as follows.

Top 5 States With The Longest School Days:

Number of Days in School Year in the United States

The length of time that schools use to gauge how much time students spend studying is called an academic year, or school year. The number of instructional days in a school year usually refers to the total amount of time that students are expected to spend in the classroom.

In the US, schools normally take a week-long spring break in March or April, as well as winter breaks for the Christmas and New Year's Day holidays. Summer break is also the longest break of the year, lasting roughly 12 weeks and beginning any time between late May or late June and late August or after Labor Day in September. Breaks in the school year can have a variety of effects on a county, including higher travel and lodging costs and a change in crime rates.

Depending on the state, school years in the US normally last between 160 and 180 days. Weekends, breaks, and holidays like Thanksgiving are not included in this.

However, as is the case with many aspects of public education, there is significant state-by-state variance in the amount of education that kids get, as well as in the length of time that students spend in class each day.

Every state establishes requirements for the bare minimum of time that classes must be in session. Typically, the minimum consists of a set number of days and hours per year as well as hours per day. State regulations also specify whether or not non-instructional time, like lunch, recess, and class changes, can be applied toward these minimums. Unless they receive a waiver, individual districts create their own calendars in accordance with those statewide regulations.

38 states plus the District of Columbia have minimum school year lengths, which is the most common way that states control instructional time. 180 instructional days are required in 27 of the 38 states and the District of Columbia, making it the closest thing the nation has to a national norm.

States that experience winter snowfall frequently account for days when schools might be closed due to bad weather. In addition, some districts offer Teacher's Day Off, which can be arranged twice or three times during the academic year, and school in-service days for teachers to participate in.

Learn more: 2024/2025 US School Holidays: Full List of Dates, Federal and State Calendar

How Many School Days and School Hours in the U.S (Every State) - Number of Days in School Year
How Many School Days in the U.S

Requirements on School Attendance Vary from State to State

Differences in Years Spent in School

In the United States, children must attend school for nine to thirteen years, depending on the state in which they reside.1. Students must attend school until they are eighteen (18) in all states but Alabama (17). States, however, differ greatly in what their laws allow for the beginning and ending ages of free public education. Massachusetts is the only state that provides free education to children as early as age 3. Texas is the only state that offers free public education to students up until the age of 26.

Differences in Days Spent in School

The number of days a student has to go to school each year varies by state, just like the number of years they have to go. In terms of minimum number of days a year, Colorado only needs 160 days, while North Carolina needs 185 days.2 Some states, on the other hand, don't say how many school days are required; instead, they tell school districts how many hours their students must spend in school each year.

Differences in Hours Spent in School

One more part of education is the number of hours each day that students spend in school. This is another case where each state has its own rules. Students in public schools in the U.S. spend an average of 6 hours a day there. Students in higher grades usually need more time each day than students in lower grades.3. But not every state sets a minimum number of hours that students must be in school every day. Of the states that do, some set total hours that include breaks like lunch, while others only set instructional hours. Because of these different rules, the length of a school day varies a lot from state to state and even from district to district. This makes it hard to directly compare states.

FAQs

How Many Days Is a School Year in the U.S?

There are a lot of different average school days in the United States. In 29 states, for example, there are 180 school days.

How many hours in a school day – or a school year?

States can decide not only how many days there are in a school year, but also how many hours or minutes. The Education Commission of the States says that these rules or laws are in 39 states. In some states, school districts can meet the minimums by the number of days or hours they need to each year. Oklahoma lets school districts set up 180 regular school days, which adds up to 1,080 hours spread out over 165 days.

Most states (26 of 39) have annual time minimums for each grade. In South Dakota, kids in fourth grade have to go to school 875 hours a year, and kids in eighth grade have to go 962.5 hours a year.

This means that fourth graders in all states with annual time minimums work an average of 997.8 hours each school year. For 11th graders, Arizona needs 720 hours (including lunch), while Texas needs 1,260 (in minutes). The 39 states that require 11th graders to do so spend an average of 1,034.8 hours a year on it.

29 states and D.C. also have rules about how many hours or minutes a school day should be. Needs for each grade level vary in 16 states. Kids in kindergarten go to school for 2.5 hours a day, kids in first through eighth grade go to school for 5 hours a day, and kids in ninth through 12th grade go to school for 5.5 hours a day.

In Maryland and Missouri, eighth graders can have a three-hour school day. In Tennessee, they can have a 6.5-hour school day. The fact that eighth graders in New Hampshire and Oregon can only go to school for six hours a day and eight hours a day is interesting. Different states have different rules about how to count lunch, recess, and other non-classroom time.

In Texas, school districts are free to decide how to spend the required minimum of 75,600 minutes (1,260 hours) in the school year. This includes breaks and lunch. Texas used to require 7 hours of schooling, which included breaks and other time spent on things other than learning.

What State Has the Most Days of School?

The National Center for Education Statistics says that Illinois and North Carolina have the most required school days, with 185.

What State Has the Fewest Required School Days?

Colorado has only 160 required school days each year, which is the fewest in the United States. Only a few states don't have a minimum number of school days each year. Arkansas, Idaho, Nebraska, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, and Wisconsin are the only states that don't have a minimum number of school days.

What States Have Four-Day School Weeks?

Colorado, New Mexico, Idaho, Oklahoma, and Oregon are among the states that have started having four-day school weeks. In fact, about 40% of school districts in New Mexico and Oregon and 60% of school districts in Colorado have switched to a four-day school week. Most of the time, these schedules get rid of classes on Friday and add about an hour to each school day when it's meeting. There are about 148 school days a year with a four-day school week, which is 32 days less than the national average of 180 school days.

Does Recess Count as Instructional Time?

It's different in each state. We looked at each state's rules on recess and instructional time to find the ones that let it happen. These states are Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Different states have different rules about how much recess counts toward required instructional time, but it's a good start!

Does Recess Take Away From Learning Time?

A lot of experts think that recess can really help a student's behavior, academic performance, life skills, and more. To learn more, look at our infographic about the good things about recess. We also looked very closely at how recess is handled in schools all over the United States.

Minimum Number of Days in a School Year by State

There are a fixed number of days and/or hours needed for each school year in every state. The Education Commission of the States has listed the minimum number of days and hours needed in each state below. Unless otherwise specified, states that have both hours per year and days per year must have both.

Some states don't specify a minimum number of days of attendance; they just list the hours that must be completed. It's possible that the list does not include any exceptions to the mandatory instruction times.

Alabama

  • 180 days
  • 1,080 hours
  • Districts have the option to meet either minimum hours per year or minimum days per year.

Alaska

  • 180 days
  • Grade K-3: 740 hours
  • Grade 4-12: 900 hours
  • Districts have the option to meet either minimum required hours per year or minimum days per year

Arizona

  • 180 days
  • Half-day Kindergarten: 356 hours
  • Grades 1-3: 712 hours
  • Grades 4-6: 890 hours
  • Grades 7-8: 1000 hours
  • Grades 9-12: 720 hours
  • Hours exclude lunch and recess for grades K-8.
  • Students in grades 9-12 must enroll in at least 4 subjects.

Arkansas

  • 178 days
  • Includes a minimum of 10 days (60 hours) professional development/in-service and a minimum of 2 days for parent/teacher conferences.

California

  • 180 days
  • Kindergarten: 600 hours
  • Grades 1-3: 840 hours
  • Grades 4-8: 900 hours
  • Grades 9-12: 1,080 hours
  • Charter schools and select districts have 175 required days.
  • State specifics instructional time in minutes

Colorado

  • 160 days
  • Half-day Kindergarten: 435 hours
  • Grades 1-3: 870 hours
  • Grades 4-8: 968 hours
  • Grades 9-12: 1,056
  • Excludes parent-teacher conferences and staff in-service programs.

Connecticut

  • 180 days
  • Half-day Kindergarten: 450 hours
  • Full-day K-12: 900 hours

Delaware

  • Grades K-11: 1,060 hours
  • Grade 12: 1,032 hours

District of Columbia

  • 180 days

Florida

  • 180 days
  • Grades K-3: 720 hours
  • Grades 4-12: 900 hours
  • Districts have the option to meet either minimum hours per year or minimum days per year.

Georgia

  • 180 days or equivalent

Hawaii

  • 180 days
  • 1,080 hours
  • Does not apply to charter or multi-track schools.
  • Days exclude professional development and other non-instructional days.

Idaho

  • District option for the number of required days
  • Kindergarten: 450 hours
  • Grades 1-3: 810 hours
  • Grades 4-8: 900 hours
  • Grades 9-12: 990 hours
  • Hour requirements include up to 22 hours for staff development but exclude recess, lunch, and passing periods.

Illinois

  • 180 days
  • Includes up to 4 professional development days.

Indiana

  • 180 days

Iowa:

  • 180 days
  • 1,080 hours
  • Districts have the option to meet either minimum hours per year or minimum days per year.

Kansas

  • Grades K-11: 186 days
  • Grades 12: 181 days
  • Kindergarten: 465 hours
  • Grades 1-11: 1,116 hours
  • Grades 12: 1,086 hours
  • Districts have the option to meet either minimum hours per year or minimum days per year.

Kentucky

  • 170 days
  • 1,062 hours
  • Districts have a 185-day calendar that includes 170 instructional days and 4 days for professional development.

Louisiana

  • 177 days
  • 1,062 hours
  • Louisiana specifies instructional time in minutes.
  • Districts have the option to meet either minimum hours per year or days per year.
  • Senior in grade 12 are allowed early dismissal for up to 10 instructional days.

Maine

  • 175 days
  • Students in grade 12 may have their year reduced to 170 days.

Maryland

  • 180 days
  • 1,080 hours (1,170 for public high schools)

Massachusetts

  • Schools must operate at least 180 days/year but instructional time is measured in hours.
  • Kindergarten: 425 hours
  • Grades 1-5: 900 hours
  • Grades 6-12: 990 hours
  • Hours exclude lunch, recess, passing periods, homeroom, non-directed study periods, and time spent receiving school services or participating in optional school programs.

Michigan

  • 180 days
  • 1,098 hours

Minnesota

  • Grades 1-11: 165 days
  • Half-day Kindergarten: 425 hours
  • Full-day Kindergarten: 850 hours
  • Grades 1-6: 935 hours
  • Grades 7-12: 1,020 hours

Mississippi

  • 180 days

Missouri

  • 5-day week: 174 days
  • 4-day week: 142 days
  • Kindergarten: 522 hours
  • Grades 1-12: 1,044 hours

Montana

  • Half-day Kindergarten: 360 hours
  • Full-day K-3: 720 hours
  • Grades 4-12: 1,080 hours
  • Graduating seniors: 1,050 hours
  • Includes an additional 3 days for instructional and professional development.

Nebraska

  • Kindergarten: 400 hours
  • Grades 1-8: 1,032 hours
  • Grades 9-12; 1,080 hours

Nevada

  • 180 days
  • May includes up to 5 days for professional development with approval from the superintendent of public instruction.

New Hampshire

  • 180 days
  • Kindergarten: 450 hours
  • Elementary schools: 945 hours
  • Middle and high schools: 990 hours
  • Districts have the option to meet either minimum hours per year or days per year.
  • High school seniors may have their year reduced by up to 5 days or 30 hours.

New Jersey

  • 180 days

New Mexico

  • Half-day Kindergarten: 450 hours
  • Full-day K-6: 990 hours
  • Grades 7-12: 1,080 hours
  • 33 hours of the full-day kindergarten program and 22 hours of grades 1-6 may be used for home visits by the teacher or parent-teacher conferences.
  • 12 hours of grades 7-12 may be used to consult with parents or for parent-teacher conferences.

New York

  • 180 days

North Carolina

  • 185 days
  • 1,025 hours
  • Districts have the option to meet either minimum hours per year or days per year.

North Dakota

  • 175 days
  • In a 182-day calendar, 175 days are required for instruction, at least 2 must be used for professional development, and no more than 2 days may be used for parent-teacher conferences.
  • Any reconfigured school year must include at least 951.5 hours for grade K-8 and 1,038 hours for grades 9-12.

Ohio

  • District option for minimum days.
  • Half-day Kindergarten: 455 hours
  • Full-day K-6: 910 hours
  • Grades 7-12: 1,001 hours

Oklahoma

  • 180 days
  • 1,080 hours
  • Districts have the option to meet either the minimum hours per year or days per year.
  • Hours include up to 30 hours used for professional meetings and 6 hours per semester for parent-teacher conferences.

Oregon

  • Half-day Kindergarten: 450 hours
  • Full-day K-8: 900 hours
  • Grades 9-11: 990 hours
  • Grade 12: 966 hours
  • Hours include recess for grades K-3.
  • Hours include up to 30 hours used for professional meetings and 6 hours per semester for parent-teacher conferences.

Pennsylvania

  • 180 days
  • Kindergarten: 450 hours
  • Grade 1-8: 900 hours
  • Grade 9-12: 990 hours
  • Districts have the option to meet either the minimum hours per year or days per year.

Rhode Island

  • 180 days
  • 1,080 hours
  • Districts have the option to meet either the minimum hours per year or days per year.

South Carolina

  • 180 days
  • 3 days must be used for professional development; no more than 2 days may be used for the preparation of opening schools; and 5 days must be used for teacher planning, academic plans, and parent conferences to total 190 days.

South Dakota

  • Minimum days is district option.
  • Kindergarten: 437.5 hours
  • Grades 1-5: 875 hours
  • Grades 6-12: 962.5 hours
  • Hours include intermission for grades 1-5 but exclude intermissions for grates 6-12.
  • School boards may release graduating seniors before the end of the school year.

Tennessee

  • 180 days
  • Plus 5 days for in-service and 1 day for parent-teacher conferences.

Texas

  • 1,260 hours.
  • Hours include intermissions and recesses.
  • The state specifies instructional time in minutes.

Utah

  • 180 days
  • Kindergarten: 450 hours
  • Grade 1: 810 hours
  • Grades 1-12: 990
  • Day requirement includes parent-teacher conferences or college and career conferences for up to 16.5 hours or 3 full school days.

Vermont

  • 175 days
  • Plus at least 5 days of teacher in-service education days.

Virginia

  • 180 days
  • Kindergarten: 540 hours
  • Grades 1-12: 990 hours
  • Districts have the option to meet either minimum hours per year or minimum days per year.

Washington

  • 180 days
  • Grades K-8: 1,000 hours
  • Grades 9-12: 1,080 hours

West Virginia

  • 180 days

Wisconsin

  • Kindergarten: 437 hours
  • Grades 1-6: 1,050 hours
  • Grades 7-12: 1,137 hours

Wyoming

  • 175 days
  • Kindergarten: 450 hours
  • Elementary: 900 hours
  • Middle/Junior High: 1,050 hours
  • Secondary: 1,100 hours
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