The United States offers one of the most competent curriculums that rank highly in every aspect. However, a parent – or learners – would ask, “how many weeks in a school year makes learning comprehensive enough?”
Most states have requirements for every grade and category, unlike only a few. Regardless, the average number of weeks in a school year spans approximately 25 weeks.
If you need to understand how many weeks each state requires in the United States, this guide will offer an in-depth answer and clear any doubt.
Table of Contents
US states and weeks per year
| State Name | Grade | Hours | Days | Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Kindergarten to Grade 12 | 1,080 | 180 | ≈ 25 weeks |
| Alaska | – Kindergarten to Grade 3 – Grade 4-12 | – 740 – 900 | 180 | ≈ 25 weeks |
| Arizona | – Grades 1-3 – Grades 4-8 – Grade 9-12 | -712 – 890 – 720 | 180 | ≈ 25 weeks |
| Arkansas | – Grades 1-3 – Grades 4-8 – Grade 9-12 – Kindergarten | ~ | 178 | 25 weeks |
| California | – Grades 1-3 – Grades 4-8 – Grade 9-12 – Kindergarten | – 840 – 900 – 1,080 – 600 | 175 -180 | ≈ 25 weeks |
| Colorado | – Grades 1-5 – Grade 6-12 – Kindergarten | – 990 – 1,080 – 450 – 900 | 180 | ≈ 25 weeks |
| Connecticut | – Grade 1-12 – Kindergarten | – 900 – 450 – 900 | 180 | ≈ 25 weeks |
| Delaware | – Kindergarten to Grade 11 – Grade 12 | – 1,060 – 1,032 | Hourly requirement only | – |
| District of Columbia | Kindergarten to Grades 3 Grades 4-8 Grade 9-12 | ~ | 180 | ≈ 25 weeks |
| Florida | – Kindergarten to Grades 3 – Grades 4 – 12 | – 720 – 900 | 180 | ≈ 25 weeks |
| Georgia | – Grades 1-3 – Grades 4-8 – Grade 9-12 – Kindergarten | ~ | 180 | ≈ 25 weeks |
| Hawaii | Kindergarten to Grade 12 | 1,080 | 180 | ≈ 25 weeks |
| Idaho | – Grades 1-3 – Grades 4-8 – Grade 9-12 – Kindergarten | – 810 – 900 – 990 – 450 | School days depend on school districts. | – |
| Illinois | – Grades 1-3 – Grades 4-8 – Grade 9-12 – Kindergarten | ~ | 176 – 185 | ≈ 25 to 26 weeks |
| Indiana | – Grades 1-3 – Grades 4-8 – Grade 9-12 – Kindergarten | ~ | 180 | ≈ 25 weeks |
| Iowa | Kindergarten – Grade 12 | 1,080 | 180 | ≈ 25 weeks |
| Kansas | – Grades 1 to 11 – Grade 12 – Kindergarten | – 1,116 – 1,086 – 465 | – 186 days for grades 1 to 11 – 181 days for grades 12 | ≈ 26 weeks 25 weeks |
| Kentucky | Kindergarten – Grade 12 | 1,062 | 170 | 24 weeks |
| Louisiana | Kindergarten – Grade 12 | 1,062 | 177 | 25 weeks |
| Maine | – Grades 1-3 – Grades 4-8 – Grade 9-12 – Kindergarten | ~ | 180 | ≈ 25 weeks |
| Maryland | – Grades 1-3 – Grades 4-8 – Grade 9-12 – Kindergarten | – 1,080 – 1,170 – for public high schools | 180 | ≈ 25 weeks |
| Massachusetts | – Grades 1-5 – Grade 6-12 – Kindergarten | – 900 – 990 – 465 | 180 | ≈ 25 weeks |
| Michigan | Kindergarten to Grade 12 | 1,098 | 180 | ≈ 25 weeks |
| Minnesota | – Grades 1-6 – Grade 7-12 – Kindergarten | – 935 – 1,020 – 425 | 165 days for grades 1 to 11 | ≈ 23 weeks |
| Mississippi | – Grades 1-3 – Grades 4-8 – Grade 9-12 – Kindergarten | ~ | 180 days | ≈ 25 weeks |
| Missouri | – Grade 1-12 – Kindergarten | – 1,044 – 522 | Hourly requirements only | – |
| Montana | – Grades 1-3 – Grades 4-12 – Kindergarten | – 720 – 1,080 – 360-720 | School days depend on school districts | – |
| Nebraska | – Grades 1-8 – Grade 9-12 – Kindergarten | – 1,032 – 1,080 – 400 | Hourly requirements only | – |
| Nevada | – Grades 1-3 – Grades 4-8 – Grade 9-12 – Kindergarten | ~ | 180 | ≈ 25 weeks |
| New Hampshire | – Elementary schools – Middle high schools – Kindergarten | – 945 – 990 – 450 | 180 | ≈ 25 weeks |
| New Jersey | – Grades 1-3 – Grades 4-8 – Grade 9-12 – Kindergarten | ~ | 180 | ≈ 25 weeks |
| New Mexico | – Grades 1-6 – Grade 7-12 – Kindergarten | – 990 – 1,080 – 450-990 | Hourly requirements only | – |
| New York | – Grades 1-6 – Grade 7-12 – Kindergarten | – 900 – 990 – 450-900 | 180 | ≈ 25 weeks |
| North Carolina | – Grades 1-3 – Grades 4-8 – Grade 9-12 – Kindergarten | 1,025 | 185 | 26 weeks |
| North Dakota | – Grades 1-5 – Grades 6-12 – Kindergarten | – 962 – 1,050 – 481-962 | Hourly requirements only | – |
| Ohio | – Grades 1-6 – Grade 7-12 – Kindergarten | – 910 – 1,001 – 450-910 | School days depend on school districts | – |
| Oklahoma | Kindergarten – Grade 12 | 1,080 | 180 | ≈ 25 weeks |
| Oregon | – Grades 1-8 – Grade 9-11 – Grade 12 – Kindergarten | – 900 – 990 – 966 – 450-900 | Hourly requirements only | – |
| Pennsylvania | – Grades 1-3 – Grades 4-8 – Grade 9-12 – Kindergarten | ~ | 180 | ≈ 25 weeks |
| Rhode Island | – Grades 1-6 – Grade 7-12 – Kindergarten | – 900 – 990 | 180 | ≈ 25 weeks |
| South Carolina | – Grades 1-3 – Grades 4-8 – Grade 9-12 – Kindergarten | ~ | 180 | ≈ 25 weeks |
| South Dakota | – Grades 1-5 – Grade 6-12 – Kindergarten | – 875 – 963 – 438 | School days depend on school districts | – |
| Tennessee | – Grades 1-3 – Grades 4-8 – Grade 9-12 – Kindergarten | ~ | 180 | ≈ 25 weeks |
| Texas | Kindergarten – Grade 12 | 1,260 | Hourly requirements only | – |
| Utah | Kindergarten – Grade 12 | 990 | 180 | ≈ 25 weeks |
| Vermont | – Grades 1-3 – Grades 4-8 – Grade 9-12 – Kindergarten | ~ | 175 | 24 weeks |
| Virginia | – Grades 1-12 – Kindergarten | – 990 – 540 | 180 | ≈ 25 weeks |
| Washington | – Grades 1-8 – Grade 9-12 – Kindergarten | – 1,000 – 1,080 – 450 | 180 | ≈ 25 weeks |
| West Virginia | – Grades 1-3 – Grades 4-8 – Grade 9-12 – Kindergarten | ~ | 180 | ≈ 25 weeks |
| Wisconsin | – Grades 1-6 – Grade 7-12 – Kindergarten | – 1,050 – 1,137 – 437 | Hourly requirements only | – |
| Wyoming | – Grades 1-5 – Grades 6-8 – Grade 9-12 – Kindergarten | – 900 – 1,050 – 1,100 – 450 | 175 | 24 weeks |
Key
~ Not applicable since the state has no set requirement for the category.
– Not applicable. The state doesn’t have week requirements set
Typical Holidays in a Calendar Year in the United States
Holidays always lurk around all year, ranging from short and long breaks to national holidays. Here are the typical holidays in a calendar year in the United States.
- Spring Break – This break occurs in March, just before summer vacation, and lasts about five days or marginally over a week.
- Winter Break – It usually occurs during the last two weeks of December. It encompasses Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, and New Year’s Day celebrations and is one of the blissful holidays for students and learners in a calendar year.
- Fall Break – Like the spring break, fall break only lasts a week and occurs in October. Usually, this break comes a few days before Thanksgiving, and the Friday before the holiday is considered a half-day.
- Labor Day – Every first Monday of September marks Labor Day, and some schools merge it with fall break.
- President’s Day – This holiday commemorates all presidents who ruled the country. It occurs in the third month of February.
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day – This iconic day celebrates the life and Legacy of one of the country’s staunch human rights activists, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It usually occurs every third Monday in January.
- Thanksgiving Break – Thanksgiving occurs after the lapse of fall break, and schools go to a close from Wednesday to Friday to allow teachers and students to spend time with friends and family.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many Days Do You Spend In School In A Year?
On average, you spend between 175 and 180 days in school as per state requirements. Some states, like Minnesota, require students to spend at least 165 days in school.
Do Holidays Shorten The Time At School In A Year?
Holidays aren’t a part of school days and don’t count in the total days a state requires for each grade. Therefore, they don’t usually shorten their time in school.
How Many Federal Holidays Are There In A Year?
A calendar year for students has ten annual federal holidays. However, Inauguration Day happens every four years after a presidential election, making them eleven.
How Long Is The Summer Break In The United States?
Summer break is one of the most extended holidays in a calendar year. It lasts almost two and a half months, between late June and early September. Summer break is one of the most extended holidays in a calendar year. It lasts almost two and a half months, between late June and early September.
How Long Is Spring Break In America?
Spring break lasts about two weeks. Most schools schedule It for the last week of March, with a few additional days for the Easter holiday.
How Many Semesters Are In A School Year?
A school year generally has two semesters that occur within the fall and spring. A few semester-based schools offer a shorter summer session, but it usually isn’t a part of the regular academic year.
How Long Is A Typical Semester?
A semester lasts about 15 weeks in the United States, offered in two terms.
How Many Courses Does A Full-Time Student Take Per Term?
On average, a full-time student in the united states takes 4 to 5 courses per term or 15 credits. These courses are usually offered in two terms in most schools in the United States.
Do Some States In The US Have Requirements For The Time Spent In Private School?
Not all states set a minimum for the period spent in schools. Some states, including New Mexico, Ohio, and Nebraska, don’t have these standards.
Is It Mandatory To Go To School In The United States?
Local, state, and federal governments make education mandatory for all children.
Conclusion – Weeks in a School Year
There are approximately 25 school weeks in the United States, totaling about 180 days. However, this period varies in states and can be marginally more or less. Hopefully, this article acquaints you on the period each state requires for each grade in school.