Introduction
The number of required school days varies by state across the United States, while many states have a requirement of 180 days of school per academic year. For example, states like Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia all adhere to this 180-day requirement. This consistency in required school days may reflect a common understanding of the optimal amount of instructional time needed for students.
However, there are a few exceptions to this trend. Kansas requires 186 school days, while Illinois and North Carolina mandate 185 school days. These states have slightly longer academic years compared to the majority. On the other hand, some states have fewer required school days. Louisiana has a requirement of 177 days, while Vermont and Wyoming have 175 days. Kentucky follows with 170 days, and Minnesota and Colorado have the shortest academic years with 165 and 160 days, respectively. Finally, other states do not set a requirement for the number of school days.
These variations in required school days can be attributed to several factors, including educational policies, state priorities, and regional considerations. It is important to note that the number of required school days does not solely determine the quality of education provided but serves as a framework for ensuring a minimum standard of instructional time.
Average Number of School Days by State
| # | State | Required School Days |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kansas | 186 |
| 2 | Illinois | 185 |
| 3 | North Carolina | 185 |
| 4 | Alabama | 180 |
| 5 | Alaska | 180 |
| 6 | Arizona | 180 |
| 7 | California | 180 |
| 8 | Connecticut | 180 |
| 9 | District of Columbia | 180 |
| 10 | Florida | 180 |
| 11 | Georgia | 180 |
| 12 | Hawaii | 180 |
| 13 | Indiana | 180 |
| 14 | Iowa | 180 |
| 15 | Maine | 180 |
| 16 | Maryland | 180 |
| 17 | Massachusetts | 180 |
| 18 | Michigan | 180 |
| 19 | Mississippi | 180 |
| 20 | Nevada | 180 |
| 21 | New Hampshire | 180 |
| 22 | New Jersey | 180 |
| 23 | New York | 180 |
| 24 | Oklahoma | 180 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | 180 |
| 26 | Rhode Island | 180 |
| 27 | South Carolina | 180 |
| 28 | Tennessee | 180 |
| 29 | Utah | 180 |
| 30 | Virginia | 180 |
| 31 | Washington | 180 |
| 32 | West Virginia | 180 |
| 33 | Louisiana | 177 |
| 34 | Vermont | 175 |
| 35 | Wyoming | 175 |
| 36 | Kentucky | 170 |
| 37 | Minnesota | 165 |
| 38 | Colorado | 160 |
Required School Days by State
Alabama
Required School Days
180
Ranked in the US
#4
Alabama has a requirement of 180 school days.
Alaska
Required School Days
180
Ranked in the US
#5
Alaska has a requirement of 180 school days.
Arizona
Required School Days
180
Ranked in the US
#6
Arizona has a requirement of 180 school days.
California
Required School Days
180
Ranked in the US
#7
California has a requirement of 180 school days.
Colorado
Required School Days
160
Ranked in the US
#38
Colorado has a requirement of 160 school days.
Connecticut
Required School Days
180
Ranked in the US
#8
Connecticut has a requirement of 180 school days.
District of Columbia
Required School Days
180
Ranked in the US
#9
District of Columbia has a requirement of 180 school days.
Florida
Required School Days
180
Ranked in the US
#10
Florida has a requirement of 180 school days.
Georgia
Required School Days
180
Ranked in the US
#11
Georgia has a requirement of 180 school days.
Hawaii
Required School Days
180
Ranked in the US
#12
Hawaii has a requirement of 180 school days.
Illinois
Required School Days
185
Ranked in the US
#2
Illinois mandates 185 school days.
Indiana
Required School Days
180
Ranked in the US
#13
Indiana has a requirement of 180 school days.
Iowa
Required School Days
180
Ranked in the US
#14
Iowa has a requirement of 180 school days.
Kansas
Required School Days
186
Ranked in the US
#1
Kansas requires 186 school days.
Kentucky
Required School Days
170
Ranked in the US
#36
Kentucky has a requirement of 170 school days.
Louisiana
Required School Days
177
Ranked in the US
#33
Louisiana has a requirement of 177 school days.
Maine
Required School Days
180
Ranked in the US
#15
Maine has a requirement of 180 school days.
Maryland
Required School Days
180
Ranked in the US
#16
Maryland has a requirement of 180 school days.
Massachusetts
Required School Days
180
Ranked in the US
#17
Massachusetts has a requirement of 180 school days.
Michigan
Required School Days
180
Ranked in the US
#18
Michigan has a requirement of 180 school days.
Minnesota
Required School Days
165
Ranked in the US
#37
Minnesota has a requirement of 165 school days.
Mississippi
Required School Days
180
Ranked in the US
#19
Mississippi has a requirement of 180 school days.
Nevada
Required School Days
180
Ranked in the US
#20
Nevada has a requirement of 180 school days.
New Hampshire
Required School Days
180
Ranked in the US
#21
New Hampshire has a requirement of 180 school days.
New Jersey
Required School Days
180
Ranked in the US
#22
New Jersey has a requirement of 180 school days.
New York
Required School Days
180
Ranked in the US
#23
New York has a requirement of 180 school days.
North Carolina
Required School Days
185
Ranked in the US
#3
North Carolina requires 185 school days.
Oklahoma
Required School Days
180
Ranked in the US
#24
Oklahoma has a requirement of 180 school days.
Pennsylvania
Required School Days
180
Ranked in the US
#25
Pennsylvania has a requirement of 180 school days.
Rhode Island
Required School Days
180
Ranked in the US
#26
Rhode Island has a requirement of 180 school days.
South Carolina
Required School Days
180
Ranked in the US
#27
South Carolina has a requirement of 180 school days.
Tennessee
Required School Days
180
Ranked in the US
#28
Tennessee has a requirement of 180 school days.
Utah
Required School Days
180
Ranked in the US
#29
Utah has a requirement of 180 school days.
Vermont
Required School Days
175
Ranked in the US
#34
Vermont has a requirement of 175 school days.
Virginia
Required School Days
180
Ranked in the US
#30
Virginia has a requirement of 180 school days.
Washington
Required School Days
180
Ranked in the US
#31
Washington has a requirement of 180 school days.
West Virginia
Required School Days
180
Ranked in the US
#32
West Virginia has a requirement of 180 school days.
Wyoming
Required School Days
175
Ranked in the US
#35
Wyoming has a requirement of 175 school days.
FAQs
How long is school ?
School typically lasts for the duration of the academic year, which varies by state and can range from around 160 to 186 days.
How long is school in California ?
In California, the required length of the school year is 180 days.
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