How Many School Days in a Year?

Most US states require 180 school days (36 weeks) per academic year, though requirements range from 160 to 186 days depending on the state.

Quick Answer: Most US states require 180 school days per year (36 weeks)

School Day Requirements by State

State	Required Days	Required Hours	Notes
Alabama	180	—
Alaska	180	—
Arizona	180	—
Arkansas	178	—
California	180	—	175 for some districts
Colorado	160	1,056	Hours-based system
Connecticut	180	900
Delaware	180	1,060
Florida	180	—
Georgia	180	—
Hawaii	180	—	Single statewide district
Idaho	—	900	Hours-based (no day req)
Illinois	176	—	185 clock hours (K)
Indiana	180	—
Iowa	180	1,080
Kansas	186	1,116	Grades 7-12
Kentucky	170	1,062
Louisiana	177	—
Maine	175	—
Maryland	180	—
Massachusetts	180	900
Michigan	180	1,098
Minnesota	—	935	Hours-based (no day req)
Mississippi	180	—
Missouri	174	1,044
Montana	180	—
Nebraska	—	1,032	Hours-based
Nevada	180	—
New Hampshire	180	—
New Jersey	180	—
New Mexico	180	—
New York	180	—
North Carolina	185	1,025
North Dakota	175	952
Ohio	—	910	Hours-based
Oklahoma	180	—
Oregon	—	900	Hours-based
Pennsylvania	180	900
Rhode Island	180	—
South Carolina	180	—
South Dakota	—	962.5	Hours-based
Tennessee	180	—
Texas	180	—	75,600 min/yr
Utah	180	990
Vermont	175	—
Virginia	180	990
Washington	180	1,000
West Virginia	180	—
Wisconsin	180	—
Wyoming	175	900

How Many Weeks in a School Year?

A standard 180-day school year equals 36 weeks of instruction (180 ÷ 5 = 36). This is typically organized as:

2 semesters of 18 weeks each, or
4 quarters of 9 weeks each, or
6 terms of 6 weeks each (some year-round schools)

The school year usually spans about 40 calendar weeks (late August/early September to late May/early June), with the extra 4 weeks accounted for by holiday breaks, teacher workdays, and other non-instructional days.

School Year vs Calendar Year

Measure	School Year	Calendar Year
Total days	~180	365
Weeks	36	52
Months (approx.)	9–10	12
Instructional hours	900–1,100	N/A

The remaining ~185 calendar days include:

~104 weekend days (Sat & Sun)
~60–70 summer break days
~15–20 holiday/break days (winter, spring, Thanksgiving, etc.)

Instructional Hours vs School Days

Some states set their requirements in instructional hours rather than days. This approach gives school districts more flexibility in scheduling. For example:

Colorado requires 1,056 hours but only 160 days — districts can use longer school days.
Ohio has no minimum day requirement, only 910 hours.
Kansas requires both 186 days and 1,116 hours — the most of any state.

A typical school day runs 6 to 7 hours of instruction, so 180 days × 6.5 hours = approximately 1,170 total hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many school days are in a year?

Most US states require 180 school days per year, which works out to 36 weeks of instruction. However, requirements vary by state from as low as 160 days to as high as 186 days.

How many hours is a school year?

A typical US school year has approximately 900 to 1,080 instructional hours. Many states specify minimum hours instead of (or in addition to) minimum days. For example, Kansas requires 1,116 hours for grades 7-12.

Why do most states require 180 school days?

The 180-day standard became widespread in the mid-20th century as a practical balance between providing adequate instruction time and allowing for summer break. It divides neatly into two 90-day semesters or four 45-day quarters.

Are school days the same as calendar days?

No. A calendar year has 365 days, but a school year typically has only 180 instructional days. The remaining 185 days account for weekends (about 104 days), summer break (about 60-70 days), and holidays/breaks (about 15-20 days).