How Many Days of School in a Year? Rules by State (2026)
Most US states require 180 days of school. We read the current law in every state and DC in October 2026. 31 states and DC require at least 180 days, 12 states only set a number of hours, and 11 states have changed their rules since 2023.
Check your state
Check your school calendar
Counts Monday to Friday, minus your days off. A quick check, not legal advice: districts can get waivers and most have make-up rules.
The short answer
- 180 days is the most common rule. 27 states and DC set exactly 180.
- 4 states ask for more: Kansas (186 for grades 1-11), Illinois and North Carolina (185) and Oklahoma (181).
- 7 states ask for fewer days: Colorado (160), Minnesota (165), Kentucky (170), Vermont and Wyoming (175), Louisiana (177) and Arkansas (178). Most of them add an hours rule.
- 12 states have no statewide day count. They set a number of hours (minutes in Texas) and let districts build the calendar. Missouri adds a 169-day rule only for its larger districts.
In some states a district can meet the days rule or the hours rule. In others it needs both. The table below shows which.
What changed since 2023
A lot of school-day lists online still use data from early 2023. These 11 states have changed their rules since then:
- Missouri: 2024 law (SB 727): 169-day minimum for districts in charter counties or cities over 30,000.
- New Hampshire: Rule rewritten as Ed 306.15 (December 2024).
- New Mexico: 2023 law (HB 130) set 1,140 hours for all grades.
- Oklahoma: 2025 laws: 181 days or 1,086 hours (was 165 days or 1,080 hours).
- Oregon: Governor's order (April 2026) stops further cuts to class time; rules being revised.
- Pennsylvania: Since 2023-24, schools can meet days or hours (before, both).
- Rhode Island: 2024 law lets districts use longer days if 1,080 hours are met.
- South Carolina: 2024 law (Act 127) added the 1,080-hour rule.
- Utah: State rule updated August 2026: 180 days or the same hours.
- Virginia: 2026 law moved the start-date rule from Labor Day to September 1.
- West Virginia: 2026 law (SB 890): 900 hours replaces 180 days from July 1, 2027.
School days and hours by state
Hours are the yearly minimum for each grade group. "Days or hours" means a district can meet either one.
| State | Min. days | Min. hours a year | Rule | Start date | Changed since 2023 | Law |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 180 | 1,080 (all grades) | Days or hours | - | - | Ala. Code § 16-13-231 |
| Alaska | 180 | K-3: 740, grades 4-12: 900 (with state approval) | Days, or hours with approval | - | - | AS 14.03.030 |
| Arizona | 180 | Grades 1-3: 712, 4-8: 890, 9-12: 720 | Days or hours | - | - | A.R.S. § 15-341.01, § 15-901 |
| Arkansas | 178 | 1,068 on an alternate or 4-day calendar | Days, or hours on an alternate calendar | Start window set each year in law | - | Ark. Code § 6-10-106 |
| California | 180 (charters 175) | K: 36,000 min, 1-3: 50,400, 4-8: 54,000, 9-12: 64,800 | Days and minutes | - | - | Cal. Educ. Code § 46200, § 46201 |
| Colorado | 160 | Half-day K: 450, full-day K: 900, elementary: 990, secondary: 1,080 | Days and hours | - | - | C.R.S. § 22-32-109 |
| Connecticut | 180 | Half-day K: 450, full-day K-12: 900 | Days and hours | Regional school calendar | - | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 10-16 |
| Delaware | Not set | K-11: 1,060, grade 12: 1,032 | Hours | Calendar adopted by April 30 | - | 14 Del. C. § 1049 |
| District of Columbia | 180 | 5 hours a day | Days | - | - | D.C. Code § 38-2901 |
| Florida | 180 | K-3: 720, grades 4-12: 900 | Days or hours | Not before August 10 | - | Fla. Stat. § 1011.61, § 1001.42 |
| Georgia | 180 | Daily average: K-3: 4.5 h, 4-5: 5 h, 6-12: 5.5 h | Days or the equivalent | - | - | Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 160-5-1-.02 |
| Hawaii | 180 | 1,080 (all grades) | Days and hours | - | - | HRS § 302A-251 |
| Idaho | Not set | K: 450, 1-3: 810, 4-8: 900, 9-12: 990 | Hours | - | - | Idaho Code § 33-512 |
| Illinois | 185 (for 176 attendance days) | Not set | Days | - | - | 105 ILCS 5/10-19 |
| Indiana | 180 | Daily: grades 1-6: 5 h, 7-12: 6 h | Days | - | - | IC 20-30-2-3 |
| Iowa | 180 | 1,080 (all grades) | Days or hours | Not before August 23 | - | Iowa Code § 279.10 |
| Kansas | 186 (grade 12: 181) | K: 465, 1-11: 1,116, 12: 1,086 | Days or hours | - | - | K.S.A. 72-3115 |
| Kentucky | 170 | 1,062 (all grades) | Days and hours | Hours-only year allowed if school starts no earlier than the Monday closest to August 26 | - | KRS 158.070 |
| Louisiana | 177 | 360 minutes a day (63,720 a year) | Days or minutes | - | - | La. R.S. 17:154.1 |
| Maine | 180 (175 with students) | Not set | Days | - | - | 20-A M.R.S. § 4801 |
| Maryland | 180 | 1,080 (all grades) | Days and hours | Set by each county | - | Md. Code, Educ. § 7-103 |
| Massachusetts | 180 (185 must be scheduled) | K: 425, elementary: 900, secondary: 990 | Days and hours | - | - | 603 CMR 27.00 |
| Michigan | 180 | 1,098 (all grades) | Days and hours | - | - | MCL 388.1701 |
| Minnesota | 165 (grades 1-11) | K: 425 (all-day 850), 1-6: 935, 7-12: 1,020 | Days and hours | Not before Labor Day (some exceptions) | - | Minn. Stat. § 120A.41, § 120A.40 |
| Mississippi | 180 | Not set | Days | - | - | Miss. Code § 37-13-63 |
| Missouri | Not set statewide (169 in large districts) | 1,044 (all grades) | Hours | No earlier than 14 days before the first Monday in September | 2024 law (SB 727): 169-day minimum for districts in charter counties or cities over 30,000 | RSMo § 171.031 |
| Montana | Not set | Half-day K: 360, full-day K-3: 720, 4-12: 1,080 | Hours | - | - | MCA § 20-1-301 |
| Nebraska | Not set | Elementary: 1,032, high school: 1,080 | Hours | - | - | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 79-211 |
| Nevada | 180 | Not set | Days | - | - | NRS 388.090 |
| New Hampshire | 180 | K: 450, 1-6: 945, 7-12: 990 | Days or hours | - | Rule rewritten as Ed 306.15 (December 2024) | RSA 189:1, Ed 306.15 |
| New Jersey | 180 | Not set | Days | - | - | N.J.S.A. 18A:7F-9 |
| New Mexico | Not set in law | 1,140 (half-day K: 550) | Hours | - | 2023 law (HB 130) set 1,140 hours for all grades | NMSA § 22-2-8.1 |
| New York | 180 | Half-day K: 450, K-6: 900, 7-12: 990 | Days and hours | - | - | 8 NYCRR § 175.5 |
| North Carolina | 185 | 1,025 (all grades) | Days or hours | Start Monday closest to August 26, end by Friday closest to June 11 | - | G.S. 115C-84.2 |
| North Dakota | Not set | Elementary: 962.5, middle and high: 1,050 | Hours | - | - | N.D.C.C. § 15.1-06-04 |
| Ohio | Not set | Half-day K: 455, all-day K and 1-6: 910, 7-12: 1,001 | Hours | - | - | Ohio Rev. Code § 3313.48 |
| Oklahoma | 181 | 1,086 (at least 166 days) | Days or hours | - | 2025 laws: 181 days or 1,086 hours (was 165 days or 1,080 hours) | 70 O.S. § 1-109 |
| Oregon | Not set | K-8: 900, 9-11: 990, 12: 966 | Hours | - | Governor's order (April 2026) stops further cuts to class time; rules being revised | OAR 581-022-2320 |
| Pennsylvania | 180 | Half-day K: 450, full-day K and 1-6: 900, 7-12: 990 | Days or hours | - | Since 2023-24, schools can meet days or hours (before, both) | 24 P.S. § 15-1501, 22 Pa. Code § 11.3 |
| Rhode Island | 180 | 1,080 (all grades) | Days or hours | - | 2024 law lets districts use longer days if 1,080 hours are met | R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-2-2 |
| South Carolina | 180 | 1,080 (all grades) | Days and hours | Not before the third Monday in August | 2024 law (Act 127) added the 1,080-hour rule | S.C. Code § 59-1-425 |
| South Dakota | Not set | K: 437.5, 1-5: 875, 6-12: 962.5 | Hours | - | - | SDCL § 13-26-1 |
| Tennessee | 180 | 6.5 hours a day | Days | Not before August 1 | - | Tenn. Code § 49-6-3004 |
| Texas | Not set | 75,600 minutes (1,260 hours) | Minutes | Not before the fourth Monday in August | - | Tex. Educ. Code § 25.081 |
| Utah | 180 | 990 (all grades) | Days or hours | - | State rule updated August 2026: 180 days or the same hours | Utah Admin. Code R277-419 |
| Vermont | 175 | Not set in law | Days | Area calendar adopted before April 1 | - | 16 V.S.A. § 1071 |
| Virginia | 180 | 990 (all grades) | Days or hours | No earlier than 14 days before September 1 | 2026 law moved the start-date rule from Labor Day to September 1 | Va. Code § 22.1-98, § 22.1-79.1 |
| Washington | 180 | Grades 1-8: 1,000, 9-12: 1,080 | Days and hours | - | - | RCW 28A.150.220 |
| West Virginia | 180 (until June 2027) | 900 from July 2027 | Days | Set by each county | 2026 law (SB 890): 900 hours replaces 180 days from July 1, 2027 | W. Va. Code § 18-5-45 |
| Wisconsin | Not set | K: 437, 1-6: 1,050, 7-12: 1,137 | Hours | Not before September 1 (unless exempted) | - | Wis. Stat. § 121.02 |
| Wyoming | 175 | K: 450, elementary: 900, middle: 950, high: 1,000 | Days and hours | - | - | Wyo. Stat. § 21-4-301 |
Which state has the most school days?
Kansas has the highest day count in law: 186 days for grades 1 to 11 and 181 for seniors. Illinois sets a 185-day term, but that includes days without students, and the law aims for 176 days of actual attendance. North Carolina also sets 185 days, though a district can pick 1,025 hours instead.
The lowest day count is Colorado's 160 days, but Colorado also asks for up to 1,080 hours, so students there aren't in class much less than anywhere else. Hours-only states like Texas, Ohio and Wisconsin don't have a day number, so they can't be ranked this way.
How we checked
We started from the January 2023 list by the Education Commission of the States. Then we opened the current law for every state and DC in October 2026: the state code on the legislature's website, the state education rule, or, where a legislature site wouldn't load, the state education department's own page that quotes the law. Each row links to the source we used.
Two notes. Oregon is rewriting its time rules after an April 2026 order from the governor, so its numbers may change this fall. West Virginia's new 900-hour rule starts on July 1, 2027.
Want to see your own count all year? The school day counter shows today's school day on your class website, and the 100th day of school calculator finds your 100th day.
Frequently asked questions
How many days of school are in a year in the US?
Usually 180. That's the rule in 27 states and DC, and 4 more states ask for a bit more. 12 states set hours instead of a day count.
Do snow days count as school days?
Usually not. A day counts when school is in session. Many of the laws we read have make-up rules, and a few states, like Minnesota and Iowa, allow a small number of online days instead. Your district calendar should list its make-up days.
What's the difference between a days rule and an hours rule?
A days rule counts how many days school is open. An hours rule adds up class time over the year. With an hours rule, a district can run longer days and have fewer of them, which is how four-day school weeks work in states like Missouri and Arkansas.
How many school days are left this year?
Enter your first and last day of school and your days off in the calendar check above. It counts the school days, and the school day counter can show the number on your class website every morning.