How Many Weeks in a School Year in Different Countries?

Updated on November 6, 2024 | By Himanshu Mehra

School is the most important part of the holistic development of children, where they indulge in various academics and extracurricular activities. By identifying how many weeks in a school year it is mandatory to attend, parents can plan out the schedule.

This would allow children to explore several non-scholastic activities and take part in competitive sports that will improve their cognitive skills. Utilizing the free time and carefully assessing the situation, students could get leverage and live a balanced school life.

Know how many weeks are there in a school year in your country, and plan your academics accordingly.

Table of Contents:

How Many Weeks Are in a School Year Around the World?
Common School Holidays Around the World
Final Words
FAQs

How Many Weeks Are in a School Year Around the World?

The school phase is divided into 4 segments (lower primary, upper primary, secondary, and higher secondary). By classifying the total weeks in a school year based on these segments, it would be easier to identify the number of days to dedicate.

On average, it takes 14 years (K–12) to complete school. By excluding holidays and session breaks, approximately 28 active weeks to complete a year of school. Due to deviations in education policy around the globe, the number of active weeks would be different compared to schools in other regions.

So here is the detailed overview of total weeks in a school year around the world that is classified based on 4 levels.

Lower Primary

Lower primary school consists of classes from KG to 4th standard, where students are taught about basic subject matters. The main motive during this stage is to sharpen the cognition of students; therefore, less emphasis is given to mandatory attendance.

The average total weeks in a school year of lower primary is around 31 weeks. That makes it the least active week compared to other phases. Here is the chart of active weeks of lower primary schools around the globe.

Countries	Total Weeks in a School Year
USA	25
UK	39
China	36
India	40
Japan	31
Germany	20
Russia	30
Singapore	33
Malaysia	30
Australia	31
Canada	26
Ireland	26
South Africa	36
Brazil	37
Ukraine	32
Saudi Arabia	29
Sweden	37
Denmark	26
Switzerland	31

Upper Primary

The upper primary school includes classes between 5th to 8th, where subjects and curriculum become a bit advanced. A few additional subjects are also because of which more active days are added. Due to the increased pressure of the curriculum, students are required to maintain 75% attendance in school.

So the total number of weeks in upper primary school around the globe is averaged at 32 weeks. Moreover, students are also asked to join summer classes that increase their active participation days.

Countries	Total Weeks in a School Year
USA	28
UK	39
China	38
India	40
Japan	31
Germany	25
Russia	34
Singapore	38
Malaysia	32
Australia	36
Canada	28
Ireland	26
South Africa	40
Brazil	38
Ukraine	32
Saudi Arabia	30
Sweden	37
Denmark	29
Switzerland	36

Secondary

9th and 10th classes are considered secondary schools where students are in their teenage phase. The academics become more complex, and the leniency that was given in attendance is reduced to emphasize more on completion of the syllabus. On average, the total weeks in secondary school are around 34 weeks, based on sample statistics around the world.

Countries	Total Weeks in a School Year
USA	34
UK	39
China	38
India	42
Japan	35
Germany	29
Russia	34
Singapore	40
Malaysia	32
Australia	40
Canada	28
Ireland	26
South Africa	40
Brazil	38
Ukraine	32
Saudi Arabia	38
Sweden	40
Denmark	29
Switzerland	38

High School

High school is the last stage of school life, which is 11th and 12th. The students are aged between 16-18 and that is where their subjects start to get streamlined. To cover the curriculum on time, students have to attend mandatory summer as well as winter classes, hence reducing the breaks. So, the active weeks of high school in a year is 37 weeks; this is due to conserve time to prepare for entrance exams to pursue graduate and undergraduate degrees.

Countries	Total Weeks in a School Year
USA	34
UK	39
China	38
India	42
Japan	35
Germany	29
Russia	34
Singapore	40
Malaysia	36
Australia	40
Canada	28
Ireland	38
South Africa	40
Brazil	38
Ukraine	34
Saudi Arabia	38
Sweden	40
Denmark	37
Switzerland	38

Moreover, you can complete your high school early and kick-start your graduation beforehand. It’s worth noting that some schools are off on Saturday and Sunday and, on the other hand, some schools have second Saturdays off.

The holidays and break duration are different from region to region; let’s have a detailed look at the school holidays that are common throughout the world.

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Common School Holidays Around the World

The academic year of school consists of many holidays and session breaks. Those may include many religious festivals, national holidays, and remembrance days in the academic year. There are some common holidays and festivals that are celebrated around the world due to which schools remain closed on such occasions.

Summer break is the most common holiday and students get almost 7-8 weeks off from their academic session.

Winter break offers the most enthralling part of the year for students. It is yet another long holiday and filled with festivals that include Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year. The winter holidays last up to 3-4 weeks and in hilly areas the break might extend to 8-10 weeks due to heavy snowfall.

A session break is given after the completion of the half-yearly exams or the end of the academic year, this rest is given to students before commencing a new session. This break is about 4 weeks long, after that students are promoted to the next class, and the cycle gets repeated.

In between there are several religious festivals that are celebrated worldwide and schools get shut during such occurrences. Occasions such as St. Patrick’s, Diwali, Eid, Easter, Good Friday, and Dia de Los Muertos are widely recognized festivals.

Assessing these holidays in advance helps students and parents determine how many weeks in a school year have to attend. By complying with more than 75% attendance rules and keeping all the holidays in account, students can have a balanced academic and personal life.

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Final Words

The total number of weeks in a school day may also be different based on district and school beliefs. A Christian catholic school offers extra holidays during Christmas, and schools situated in colder regions may have more off days during winter.

In such cases, schools may adopt a blended learning model, facilitating the timely completion of the syllabus. To get the detailed active days of school, you can contact your teachers or even coordinate with your principal. By identifying how many weeks are in a school year, students can improve their academics and work on other skills.