Did you know that students in the US spend almost 1,000 hours per year in a classroom which is almost 36 weeks in a school year. Equal to the time spent watching 500 full movies. But surprisingly, the number of weeks in a school year is not the same everywhere.
But the real question is, how many weeks in a school year are there across different countries and states? In fact, some countries cover their syllabus in fewer days, while others cover their syllabus in whole years. The OECD ( Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) includes 38 countries like the US,UK, Canada, Japan and Germany etc.
According to OECD data , the average school year has 38 to 40 weeks. Countries like South Korea and Japan have longer school years, while others like the U.S. have slightly shorter weeks. Do you want to know how many weeks in a school year in different states?
Here is the average number of weeks in a school year, compared by country and U.S. state.
📊 School Year Length: Country/State-wise Table
| Country/State | Avg. School Weeks | Notes |
| OECD Average | 38 weeks | Based on 805–916 instructional hours over ~38 weeks Global standard among developed countries |
| Australia | 40 weeks | ~200 school days/year across 4 terms |
| Brazil | 38–40 weeks | Approx. 200 active school days |
| Canada | 38–40 weeks | ~185–194 days; provinces ~37–38 weeks |
| China | 40–42 weeks | 220–260 days (~44–52 weeks) in some estimates; 2 long semesters |
| England (UK) | 39–40 weeks | ~195 days; inset (includes staff only) days |
| Finland | 38–40 weeks | ~190 school days; high global ranking |
| France | 36 weeks | ~162 days; longest summer (16 weeks) Still up for discussion |
| Germany | 37–40 weeks | State-specific, 187–190 days; 12 weeks holidays |
| India | 36–40 weeks | Varies by board; regional June–March calendars |
| Indonesia | ~40 weeks | Two semesters, multiple religious holidays |
| Ireland | 39–40 weeks | ~183 school days per year |
| Italy | 36–38 weeks | ~200 days; 13-week summer in places like Lombardy(Region) |
| Japan | 40–42 weeks | 210–250 days (~42–50 weeks) |
| Mexico | 38–40 weeks | ~200 days annually |
| New York (USA) | 36 weeks | Public schools operate ~180 days |
| Nigeria | 39–40 weeks | 3‑term system; holidays vary regionally |
| Norway | 38–40 weeks | Flexible term length, 8‑week summer breaks |
| Pakistan | 36–38 weeks | April–March calendars, varies by province |
| Philippines | ~40 weeks | Two semesters; K–12 reform calendar |
| Russia | ~39 weeks | ~211 school days (Sept–June) |
| Saudi Arabia | ~36 weeks | Adjusts for Islamic holidays |
| Scotland (UK) | 39 weeks | Starts in August; term dates different |
| South Africa | ~40 weeks | ~200 days across 4 terms |
| South Korea | 40–42 weeks | ~220 school days; long academic calendar |
| Spain | 36–38 weeks | ~180 school days; seasonal public holidays |
| Texas (USA) | 36 weeks | Based on 75,600 mins (~180 days) |
| Turkey | 36–39 weeks | Sept–June calendar with multiple holidays |
| UAE | 36 weeks | KHDA/MoE requirement ~180 days |
| United States (Avg.) | 36 weeks | Roughly 180 instructional days |
| Vietnam | 39–40 weeks | Sept–May/June calendar |
| Washington (USA) | 36–37 weeks | ~180 days minimum; district-dependent |
| Zimbabwe | 40 weeks | 3‑term Jan–Dec academic calendar |
| Iceland | 34–36 weeks | ~170–180 days (9 months) |
| Ghana | 40 weeks | Aug–May academic year |
| Serbia | ~38 weeks | Sept–June school year (~9½ months) |
| Thailand | ~36 weeks | Two semesters with ~12 weeks holidays |
Read about how many days in a school year.
📊 Summary Statistics of School Weeks
| Statistic Type | Value | Explanation |
| Average (Mean) | 35.65 | Overall average of school weeks |
| Median | 36 | Middle value when all weeks are in order. |
| Mode | 36 | Most occurring number of school weeks. |
📅 Holidays and Breaks in U.S. Educational Institutions
Schools follow their yearly calendar in which they already fix their holidays, regular classes and seasonal breaks. These breaks give teachers and students to rest, to doing celebrations and picnics with their families.
✨ Common Holidays (Schools Usually Closed)
| Holiday Name | Time of Year | Notes |
| New Year’s Day | January 1 | Schools closed for the new year celebration |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | 3rd Monday of January | Honors civil rights leader |
| Presidents’ Day | February (3rd Monday) | Celebrates U.S. presidents |
| Memorial Day | Last Monday of May | Honors fallen soldiers; marks start of summer break prep |
| Independence Day | July 4 | Summer vacation starts (schools usually already closed) |
| Labor Day | 1st Monday of September | Start of school year for many areas |
| Thanksgiving Break | 4th Thursday of November | 2–3 days off; often part of a long weekend |
| Christmas Break | Late December | Usually 1–2 weeks off for Christmas and New Year |
🌴 Seasonal Breaks
| Break Type | Usual Timing | Duration | Description |
| Winter Break | Late December to early January | 1–2 weeks | Covers Christmas and New Year holidays |
| Spring Break | March or April | 1 week | around Easter; time for rest and travel |
| Summer Break | May or June to August | ~8–10 weeks | Longest break; varies by state or school district |
| Fall Break | October (optional) | 1–2 days or 1 week | Not all schools give this; mostly in Southern states |
By the end of a long weekend, Saturday morning is very charming for both students and teachers. Here is the Saturday blessing which reset your spirit and fresh your mind.
🕒 Extra Days Off (District-level or Optional)
- Teacher Workdays / In-service Days: No classes for students
- Snow Days: Unexpected closures due to weather
- Testing Breaks: During testing, regular classes may pause
🧮 How to Calculate the Number of Weeks in School Year?
To find out how many weeks are in a school year with 180 school days, use this simple formula:
Formula:
Total Weeks=Total School Days ÷ Days per Week
Since there are 7 days in a week:
180 ÷ 7 = 25.7 weeks
Schools usually operate only 5 days a week (Monday to Friday).
So, the real calculation is:
180 ÷ 5 = 36 school weeks
A 180-day school year equals approximately 36 school weeks, based on a 5-day school week system.
Conclusions:
Most US schools follow 36 weeks academic calendar, the exact number of weeks may be vary by state, school district, or even grade level. . Knowing how many weeks in a school year can help families plan better, students stay on track, plaining for picnics and traveling.
