State Compulsory School Attendance Laws
Updated August 5, 2020 |
Infoplease Staff
Here's a list of each U.S. state's minimum compulsory school age and attendance laws for 2013.
State | Compulsory ages | Compulsory attendance, days | Compulsory attendance, hours |
---|---|---|---|
Alabama | 6–17 | 180 | n.a. |
Alaska | 7–16 | 170 | grades K–3: 740 hours; grades 4–12: 900 hours |
Arizona | 6–161 | 180 | grade K: 356 hours; grades 1–3: 712 hours; grades 4–6: 890 hours; grades 7–8: 1,000 hours; grades 9–12: 720 hours |
Arkansas | 5–17 | 178 | n.a. |
California | 6–18 | 175 | grade K: 600 hours; grades 1–3: 840 hours; grades 4–8: 900 hours; grades 9–12: 1,080 hours |
Colorado | 6–17 | 160 | grade K (half-day): 435 hours; grades K (full-day): 870 hours; grades 1–5: 968 hours; grades 6–12: 1,056 hours |
Connecticut | 5–18 | 180 | grade K (half-day): 450 hours; grades K (full-day): 900 hours; grades 1–12: 900 hours |
Delaware | 5–16 | n.a. | grade K: 1,060 hours; grades 1–11: 1,060 hours; grade 12: 1,032 |
District of Columbia | 5–18 | 180 | n.a. |
Florida | 6–16 | 180 | grades K–3: 720 hours; grades 4–12 : 900 hours For schools on double-session or approved experimental calendar: grades K–3: 630 hours; grade 4–12: 810 hours |
Georgia | 6–16 | 180 | grades K–3: 810 hours; grades 4–5: 900 hours; grades 6–12: 990 hours |
Hawaii | 6–18 | 180 | grades K–6: 915 hours; grades 7–12: 990 hours |
Idaho | 7–16 | n.a. | grade K: 450 hours; grades 1–3: 810 hours; grades 4–8: 900 hours; grades 9–12: 990 hours |
Illinois | 7–17 | 176 | n.a. |
Indiana | 7–16 | 180 | n.a. |
Iowa | 6–16 | 180 | n.a. |
Kansas | 7–18 | grades K–11: 186 grade 12: 181 days | grade K: 465 hours; grades 1–11: 1116 hours; grade 12: 1,086 hours |
Kentucky | 6–16 | 175 | 1,062 hours |
Louisiana | 7–18 | 177 | 1,062 hours |
Maine | 7–17 | 175 | n.a. |
Maryland | 5–16 | 180 | 1,080 hours |
Massachusetts | 6–16 | 180 | grade K: 425 hours; grades 1–5: 900 hours; grade 6–12: 990 hours |
Michigan | 6–16 | 170 | 1,098 hours |
Minnesota | 7–16 | n.a. | grade K: 425 hours; grades 1–6: 935 hours; grade 7–12: 1,020 hours |
Mississippi | 6–17 | 180 | n.a. |
Missouri | 7–16 | 5-day week: 174 4-day week: 142 | 1,044 hours |
Montana | 7–16 | n.a. | grade K (half-day): 360 hours; grades K–3: 720 hours; grades 4–12: 1,080 hours |
Nebraska | 6–18 | n.a. | grade K: 400 hours; grades 1–8: 1,032 hours; grade 9–12: 1,080 hours |
Nevada | 7–18 | 189 | n.a. |
New Hampshire | 6–18 | 180 | grade K: 450 hours; grades 1–5: 945 hours; grade 6–12: 990 hours |
New Jersey | 6–16 | 180 | n.a. |
New Mexico | 5–18 | 180 | grade K (half-day): 450 hours; grades K (full-day): 990 hours; grades 1–6: 990 hours; grades 7–12: 1,080 hours |
New York | 6–16 | 190 | n.a. |
North Carolina | 7–16 | 185 | 1,025 hours |
North Dakota | 7–16 | 175 | grades K–8: 951.5 hours; grade 9–12: 1,038 hours |
Ohio | 6–18 | 182 | 910 hours |
Oklahoma | 5–18 | 180 | grades 1–6: 900 hours; grade 7–12: 1,080 hours |
Oregon | 7–18 | n.a. | grade K: 405 hours; grades 1–3: 810 hours; grades 4–8: 900 hours; grades 9–12: 990 hours |
Pennsylvania | 8–17 | 180 | grade K: 450 hours; grades 1–8: 900 hours; grades 9–12: 990 hours |
Rhode Island | 6–162 | 180 | n.a. |
South Carolina | 5–17 | 180 | n.a. |
South Dakota | 6–183 | n.a. | grade K: 437.5 hours; grades 1–3 875 hours; grades 4–12: 962.5 hours |
Tennessee | 6–17 | 180 | n.a. |
Texas | 6–18 | 180 | n.a. |
Utah | 6–18 | 180 | grade K: 450 hours; grades 1: 810 hours; grades 2–12: 990 hours |
Vermont | 6–161 | 175 | n.a. |
Virginia | 5–18 | n.a. | 1,080 hours |
Washington | 8–18 | 180 | grade K: 450 hours; grades 1–6: 1,000 hours; grades 7–12: 1,080 hours |
West Virginia | 6–17 | 180 | n.a. |
Wisconsin | 6–18 | 180 | grade K: 437 hours; grades 1–6: 1,050 hours; grades 7–12: 1,137 hours |
Wyoming | 7–16 | 175 | grade K: 450 hours; grades 1–5: 900 hours; grades 6–12: 1,050 hours |
1. Ages 6–16 or 10th grade completion.
2. Age 16 if a student has an alternative learning plan for obtaining a high school diploma or its equivalent
3. Age 16 if a child enrolls in a general education development test preparation program that is school based or for which a school contracts, and the child successfully completes the test or reaches the age of 18 years.
Source: Education Commission of the States (ECS), 2013.
Elementary and High School Education |