How Many Weeks Are in a School Year?

How Many Weeks Are in a School Year?

December 18, 2024

How Many Weeks Are in a School Year? Understanding the Differences Between Public and Private Schools

In the United States, the answer varies depending on factors like state regulations, school type, and local community needs. While public schools often follow state-mandated schedules, private schools may have more flexibility in their academic calendars. This flexibility can influence the number of instructional weeks, holidays, and special programs offered throughout the school year.

Typical Length of the School Year in the U.S.

Most public schools in the U.S. run for approximately 36 weeks, totaling around 180 days of instruction. These guidelines are usually set at the state or district level, ensuring a certain standard of education regardless of location.

Public schools tend to start in late August or early September and end in late May or June, with breaks spaced strategically throughout the year—such as Thanksgiving, winter, and spring breaks. The relatively uniform nature of public school schedules provides consistency for families and helps ensure that all students receive a similar baseline of instructional time.

Private Schools Offer More Flexibility

Private schools, on the other hand, enjoy greater autonomy in shaping their academic calendars. While many private institutions still hover around 36 weeks of instruction, they are not strictly bound by state mandates. This allows them to adjust their schedules for various reasons: professional development days, extended holiday breaks, internships, travel programs, or unique curricular offerings.

For example, prestigious private schools featured on FindSchool’s “Top 50 Private High Schools” list—including Phillips Academy Andover (MA), Phillips Exeter Academy (NH), The Lawrenceville School (NJ), and Choate Rosemary Hall (CT)—often design their academic calendars to reflect their individual educational philosophies. They might incorporate project-based learning weeks, intensives at the end of a term, or additional time for enrichment programs.

Similarly, schools like Trinity School (NY), Harvard-Westlake School (CA), and Sidwell Friends School (DC) may offer specialized periods for advanced research, community service, or international exchange experiences. These variations can slightly alter the number of instructional weeks, making the private school experience more tailored and dynamic.

Check School Calendars Directly

The most accurate way to determine the exact number of weeks in a school year for any given institution is to consult the school’s official website. We have compiled links to the top 50 private schools in the country for direct access, as well as a comprehensive list of 150 schools nationwide—simply click to visit their websites directly.

Below is a list of the top 50 private high schools according to the FindSchool website. FindSchool’s ranking methodology takes into account a variety of factors including academic achievement, college matriculation rates, faculty expertise, student-to-faculty ratios, available resources, extracurricular activities, and feedback from current students and parents. This comprehensive approach ensures that the listed schools provide exceptional education, strong community values, and promising pathways for future success.

Below is a list of the top 50 private high schools according to the FindSchool website. FindSchool’s ranking methodology takes into account a variety of factors including academic achievement, college matriculation rates, faculty expertise, student-to-faculty ratios, available resources, extracurricular activities, and feedback from current students and parents.

FindSchool’s Top 50 Private High Schools (with References)

  1. Phillips Academy Andover (Andover, MA)
  2. Phillips Exeter Academy (Exeter, NH)
  3. The Lawrenceville School (Lawrenceville, NJ)
  4. Groton School (Groton, MA)
  5. The Hotchkiss School (Lakeville, CT)
  6. St. Paul’s School (Concord, NH)
  7. Choate Rosemary Hall (Wallingford, CT)
  8. The College Preparatory School (Oakland, CA)
  9. The Thacher School (Ojai, CA)
  10. Lakeside School (Seattle, WA)
  11. Harvard-Westlake School (Los Angeles, CA)
  12. The Harker School (San Jose, CA)
  13. Trinity School (New York, NY)
  14. Horace Mann School (Bronx, NY)
  15. The Brearley School (New York, NY)
  16. The Spence School (New York, NY)
  17. The Dalton School (New York, NY)
  18. Sidwell Friends School (Washington, D.C.)
  19. Noble and Greenough School (Dedham, MA)
  20. The Westminster Schools (Atlanta, GA)
  21. Rye Country Day School (Rye, NY)
  22. The Pingry School (Basking Ridge, NJ)
  23. The Chapin School (New York, NY)
  24. The Hockaday School (Dallas, TX)
  25. The Lovett School (Atlanta, GA)
  26. The Bishop’s School (La Jolla, CA)
  27. The Potomac School (McLean, VA)
  28. The Blake School (Minneapolis, MN)
  29. The Latin School of Chicago (Chicago, IL)
  30. The Park School of Baltimore (Baltimore, MD)
  31. The Paideia School (Atlanta, GA)
  32. The Wheeler School (Providence, RI)
  33. The Masters School (Dobbs Ferry, NY)
  34. The Peddie School (Hightstown, NJ)
  35. The Loomis Chaffee School (Windsor, CT)
  36. The Taft School (Watertown, CT)
  37. The Rivers School (Weston, MA)
  38. The Winsor School (Boston, MA)
  39. The Roxbury Latin School (West Roxbury, MA)
  40. The Brearley School (New York, NY) (Duplicate listing)
  41. The Chapin School (New York, NY) (Duplicate listing)
  42. The Spence School (New York, NY) (Duplicate listing)
  43. The Dalton School (New York, NY) (Duplicate listing)
  44. The Nightingale-Bamford School (New York, NY)
  45. The Browning School (New York, NY)
  46. The Collegiate School (New York, NY)
  47. The Trinity School (New York, NY) (Duplicate listing)
  48. The Horace Mann School (Bronx, NY) (Duplicate listing)
  49. The Ethical Culture Fieldston School (New York, NY)
  50. The Riverdale Country School (Bronx, NY)

Below is the updated list of private schools in the United States, organized by state (and Washington, D.C.), incorporating both the previously listed approximately 200 schools. Some schools may appear multiple times.

Private Schools by State (with References)

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

North Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming

Washington, D.C.