The Average School Start Times in Every U.S. State | AAA State of Play (2024)

FAQs

What is the average school start time in the US? ›

would agree that school start times are not ideal. In America, the average school start times are notoriously early — the average school start time in the United States is 8:03 a.m. In 42 U.S. states, 75% to 100% of public schools start before 8:30 a.m., which is the CDC-recommended start time.

Overall, about 40 percent of American high schools start before 8 a.m. and more than 20 percent start at 7:45 a.m. or earlier. Only 15 percent start at or after the recommended earliest starting time of 8:30 a.m.

In the U.S., a typical day of high school starts at about 7:30 a.m. and ends around 3:00 p.m., Monday to Friday. Extracurricular activities are typically scheduled in the afternoons and early evenings during the school week; however, some extracurricular activities may also be scheduled on weekends.

Nowadays, Georgia schools start early primarily to wrap up the first semester before the winter break. This format means high schoolers finish their exams and courses before the holiday festivities, making for a cleaner break and helping students retain the knowledge they've learned.

The big story: Citing the importance of sleep for teens, Florida lawmakers changed the legal time at which public middle and high schools may begin daily classes. They gave school districts until fall 2026 to start high school no earlier than 8:30 a.m., and middle schools no earlier than 8 a.m.

Schools in Arizona follow a typical agricultural calendar. Historically schools started earlier in August to satisfy the state requirements for instructional time and still be out by Memorial Day to allow for time for students to help their families in the early fall and late spring/summer.

Under the contract, the school day for elementary and middle schools can start no earlier than 8 a.m. and end no later than 3:45 p.m. In high schools, as well as K-12 and 6-12 schools, the day can start no earlier than 8 a.m. and no later than 4:20 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays and 3:45 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays and ...

Districts often stagger start times for elementary, middle, and high schools to allow for multiple busing runs, lessen traffic congestion, and allow caregivers to drop off children at different schools. If high schools are starting later, it likely means that elementary and/or middle schools must start earlier.

California's first-in-the-nation law, which requires that high school classes start no earlier than 8:30 a.m. and middle schools not before 8 a.m., took effect last school year. Florida overwhelmingly passed a law this year with similar requirements, which schools must meet by July 2026.

The total amount of time in school is calculated based on seven hours per day, five days per week. This equates to 2100 minutes per week.

What time does school start in Maryland? ›

FCPS students have a 180-day school year in keeping with Maryland law. Generally, high schools have a 7:30 a.m. to 2:20 p.m. schedule, and most middle school students attend 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. With a few exceptions, elementary schools start at 9 a.m. and dismiss around 3:30 p.m. Check with your school for exact times.

Finland School Hours

Typically, the Finnish school day starts anywhere from 9 to 9:45 a.m., and students typically spend only about five hours a day in the classroom. What's more, Finnish students typically have little to no homework.

Theoretically, the dependence on the agricultural industry that persisted in the South after the North had begun to industrialize more heavily meant that southern children were needed on the farm during the most labor-intensive times of the season. This meant they left school earlier and went back earlier.

“Starting school before Sept. 1 shortens the Wisconsin summer for vacations and travel by families with school aged children, which negatively impacts the already short tourism season.” Minnesota and Michigan have state laws that prohibit schools from starting until after Labor Day.

"We are going to have to start later, the whole school year, and end later," he said. The change was pushed by the Missouri tourism industry — seeking to generate more profit in late August — and proved popular among lawmakers. However, many district officials fought the change, decrying the lack of local control.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a starting time of 8:30 a.m. or later. "School start time has serious implications for how students learn and perform in their education....

The average school day in the US is between 6 and 7 hours per day, usually from around 8:00 am until somewhere around 2:00 pm. Most states require about 180 days of school per year, with different breakdowns of how those days are scheduled.

Research shows that when school starts later, teens get more sleep, says Shelby Harris, a sleep psychologist and clinical associate professor at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, with "many adolescents able to obtain at least eight hours of sleep per night." That leads to better physical and mental health, ...