Updated August 5, 2020 |
Infoplease Staff
Table of contents
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 |
