State Trackers
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Education
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
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180
Ranked in the US
#4
Alabama has a requirement of 180 school days.
Required School Days
Alaska
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180
Ranked in the US
#5
Alaska has a requirement of 180 school days.
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Arizona
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180
Ranked in the US
#6
Arizona has a requirement of 180 school days.
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California
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180
Ranked in the US
#7
California has a requirement of 180 school days.
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Colorado
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160
Ranked in the US
#38
Colorado has a requirement of 160 school days.
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Connecticut
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180
Ranked in the US
#8
Connecticut has a requirement of 180 school days.
Required School Days
District of Columbia
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180
Ranked in the US
#9
District of Columbia has a requirement of 180 school days.
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Florida
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180
Ranked in the US
#10
Florida has a requirement of 180 school days.
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Georgia
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180
Ranked in the US
#11
Georgia has a requirement of 180 school days.
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Hawaii
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180
Ranked in the US
#12
Hawaii has a requirement of 180 school days.
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Illinois
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185
Ranked in the US
#2
Illinois mandates 185 school days.
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Indiana
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180
Ranked in the US
#13
Indiana has a requirement of 180 school days.
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Iowa
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180
Ranked in the US
#14
Iowa has a requirement of 180 school days.
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Kansas
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186
Ranked in the US
#1
Kansas requires 186 school days.
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Kentucky
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170
Ranked in the US
#36
Kentucky has a requirement of 170 school days.
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Louisiana
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177
Ranked in the US
#33
Louisiana has a requirement of 177 school days.
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Maine
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180
Ranked in the US
#15
Maine has a requirement of 180 school days.
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Maryland
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180
Ranked in the US
#16
Maryland has a requirement of 180 school days.
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Massachusetts
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180
Ranked in the US
#17
Massachusetts has a requirement of 180 school days.
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Michigan
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180
Ranked in the US
#18
Michigan has a requirement of 180 school days.
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Minnesota
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165
Ranked in the US
#37
Minnesota has a requirement of 165 school days.
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Mississippi
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180
Ranked in the US
#19
Mississippi has a requirement of 180 school days.
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Nevada
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180
Ranked in the US
#20
Nevada has a requirement of 180 school days.
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New Hampshire
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180
Ranked in the US
#21
New Hampshire has a requirement of 180 school days.
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New Jersey
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180
Ranked in the US
#22
New Jersey has a requirement of 180 school days.
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New York
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180
Ranked in the US
#23
New York has a requirement of 180 school days.
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North Carolina
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185
Ranked in the US
#3
North Carolina requires 185 school days.
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Oklahoma
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180
Ranked in the US
#24
Oklahoma has a requirement of 180 school days.
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Pennsylvania
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180
Ranked in the US
#25
Pennsylvania has a requirement of 180 school days.
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Rhode Island
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180
Ranked in the US
#26
Rhode Island has a requirement of 180 school days.
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South Carolina
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180
Ranked in the US
#27
South Carolina has a requirement of 180 school days.
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Tennessee
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180
Ranked in the US
#28
Tennessee has a requirement of 180 school days.
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Utah
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180
Ranked in the US
#29
Utah has a requirement of 180 school days.
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Vermont
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175
Ranked in the US
#34
Vermont has a requirement of 175 school days.
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Virginia
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180
Ranked in the US
#30
Virginia has a requirement of 180 school days.
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Washington
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180
Ranked in the US
#31
Washington has a requirement of 180 school days.
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West Virginia
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180
Ranked in the US
#32
West Virginia has a requirement of 180 school days.
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Wyoming
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175
Ranked in the US
#35
Wyoming has a requirement of 175 school days.
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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.
