Students at Hull-Daisetta High School in Texas are smiling more this year—especially on Thursday afternoons. 

    This past fall, the school switched to a four-day schedule. That means students don’t have to go to school on most Fridays. Instead, the other school days are each 45 minutes longer.

    Tim Bartram is the superintendent of the school system. He says the change has been positive so far.

    “Our students are happier,” he says. “The mood is better.”

    Having a three-day weekend every weekend may sound like a dream. But it’s a reality for more and more students. Across the country, school weeks are shrinking. More than 1,600 schools in 24 states now have a four-day week. That’s up from 257 schools in 1999. 

    Schools that have made the switch say the shorter week works well. They say it saves money and makes sense for both teachers and families. 

    But the trend has some experts concerned. They wonder: Does spending less time at school hurt students?

    Hull-Daisetta High School is in Texas. Students there are smiling more this year—especially on Thursdays. 

    This past fall, the school switched to a four-day schedule. That means school is closed on most Fridays. The other school days are each 45 minutes longer.

    Tim Bartram is the superintendent of the school system. He says the change has been positive so far.

    “Our students are happier,” he says.

    A three-day weekend every weekend may sound like a dream. But it’s real: Across the country, school weeks are shrinking. More than 1,600 schools now have a four-day week. That’s up from 257 schools in 1999. 

    These schools say the shorter week works well. They say it saves money. They say it’s good for teachers and families. 

    But the trend concerns some experts. They wonder: Does spending less time at school hurt students?

    At Hull-Daisetta High School in Texas, the students are smiling more this year—especially on Thursday afternoons.  

    This past autumn, the school switched to a four-day schedule, which means students no longer have school on most Fridays. Instead, the other school days are each 45 minutes longer.

    Tim Bartram, the superintendent of the school system, says the change has been positive so far.

    “Our students are happier,” he explains. “The mood is better.”

    Having a three-day weekend every weekend may sound like a dream, but it’s a reality for more and more students. Across the country, school weeks are shrinking. More than 1,600 schools in 24 states now have a four-day week—up from 257 schools in 1999. 

    Schools that have made the switch say the shorter week works well. They say it saves money and makes sense for both teachers and families. 

    However, the trend has some experts concerned. They wonder: Does spending less time at school hurt students?

    In the past, schools in the United States have tried out four-day weeks to save money during tough times. For example, when electricity and gas prices skyrocketed in the 1970s, several states shortened their school weeks to cut costs. (Many of them returned to the five-day schedule once prices came down.)

    Today money is still a big reason schools make the switch. When districts cut a day, they spend less on things like cafeteria food and gas for school buses. 

    Many teachers also like having an extra day off. That’s why Hull-Daisetta’s school district made the change. Districts nearby had already switched to a four-day week. Superintendent Bartram worried that staff might leave for jobs with shorter work weeks. He says more people have applied for jobs in his district since the change was made.

    In the past, schools in the United States have tried four-day weeks. They did it to save money during tough times. For example, electricity and gas prices skyrocketed in the 1970s. Some states shortened their school weeks to cut costs. (Later, many went back to five days.)

    Today money is still a big reason to make the switch. Districts spend less when they cut a day. They spend less on cafeteria food, gas for school buses, and other things. 

    Many teachers also like the extra time off. That’s why Hull-Daisetta’s school district made the change. Districts nearby had already switched to a four-day week. Superintendent Bartram worried that staff might leave for jobs with shorter work weeks. He says more people have applied for jobs in his district since the change was made.

    In the past, schools in the United States have tried out four-day weeks to save money during tough times. For example, when electricity and gas prices skyrocketed in the 1970s, several states shortened their school weeks to cut costs. (After prices came down, many of those schools returned to the five-day schedule.)

    Today money is still a major reason for making the switch. Districts can spend less on things like cafeteria food and gas for school buses when they cut a day. 

    Many teachers also appreciate having an additional day off. That’s why Hull-Daisetta’s school district made the switch. Districts nearby had already changed to a four-day week, and Superintendent Bartram worried that staff might leave for jobs in those districts. Now that his district has switched, he says, more people have applied for jobs there.

    Shorter school weeks are most popular in rural areas. In those places, homes can be many miles from school. Some students and staff spend hours getting to and from school. Having a weekday off means less time spent traveling. That leaves more time for extracurricular activities, doctor’s appointments, and sleep. As a result, students are less likely to be absent on school days. 

     Still, students spend less time in class. On average, students who attend school just four days a week spend 85 fewer hours in class each year than students who attend five days a week. Experts say this can be a problem.

    Paul Thompson is a professor at Oregon State University. He says most studies show that students with four-day weeks don’t learn as much, especially in elementary school. “We know from research that being in front of a teacher in a classroom matters a lot,” he says.

    Shorter school weeks are most popular in rural areas. In those places, homes can be many miles from school. Getting to and from school can take hours. Having a weekday off means less time spent traveling. That leaves more time for extracurricular activities, doctor’s appointments, and sleep. As a result, students are less likely to be absent on school days. 

    Still, students spend less time in class. On average, they spend 85 fewer hours in class each year than students who attend five days a week. Experts say this can be a problem.

    Paul Thompson is a professor at Oregon State University. He says most studies show that students with four-day weeks don’t learn as much. “We know from research that being in front of a teacher in a classroom matters a lot,” he says.

    Shorter weeks are most popular in rural areas, where homes can be many miles from school. Some students and staff spend hours getting to and from school, so having a weekday off means less time spent traveling. And that leaves more time for extracurricular activities, doctor’s appointments, and sleep. As a result, students are less likely to be absent on school days. 

    All the same, students with shortened school weeks end up spending less time in class. On average, students who attend school just four days a week spend 85 fewer hours in class each year than students who attend five days a week. According to experts, this can be a problem.

    Paul Thompson, a professor at Oregon State University, says most studies show that students with four-day weeks don’t learn as much, especially in elementary school. “We know from research that being in front of a teacher in a classroom matters a lot,” he says.

    There are other concerns too. A day at school includes more than just history and math lessons. It can include free school meals, physical education, and time with friends. When schools close one more day a week, students can miss out on all these things. And some parents may have trouble finding child care on weekdays when schools are closed. 

    Thompson notes that a shorter school week can affect people in different ways. It’s important to figure out how it can work for everyone.

    To find the right balance, some schools offer virtual learning or out-of-school activities on off days. In the Hull-Daisetta school district, students come in for an extra half-day one Friday a month. They use the time for extra learning or to work on special projects. 

    After that, they’re off to enjoy the weekend.

    There are other concerns too. School is more than history and math. It can include free school meals, physical education, and time with friends. Students can miss out on these things when schools are closed. Also, many parents work on weekdays. They may have trouble finding child care. 

    Thompson explains that a shorter school week affects people differently. It’s important to figure out how it can work for everyone.

    Some schools offer virtual learning on off days. Or they offer out-of-school activities. In the Hull-Daisetta school district, students come in for a half-day one Friday a month. They use the time for extra learning or to work on special projects.

    After that, they’re off to enjoy the weekend. 

    There are other concerns too. A day at school provides students with more than just history and math lessons. It can include free school meals, physical education, and time with friends. Students can miss out on all of these things because of a shorter school week. And finding child care on weekdays when schools are closed may be difficult for some parents. 

    Thompson notes that a shorter school week can affect people in different ways. It’s important to figure out how it can work for everyone.

    Some schools are trying to find the right balance by offering virtual learning or out-of-school activities on off days. In the Hull-Daisetta school district, students come in for an extra half-day one Friday a month for extra learning or to work on special projects. 

    After that, they’re off to enjoy the weekend. 

85% I like it a lot.

9% I mostly like it.

4% I neither like it nor dislike it.

1% I don’t like it that much.

1% I really don’t like it.

85% I like it a lot.

9% I mostly like it.

4% I neither like it nor dislike it.

1% I don’t like it that much.

1% I really don’t like it.

85% I like it a lot.

9% I mostly like it.

4% I neither like it nor dislike it.

1% I don’t like it that much.

1% I really don’t like it.