Forget everything you think you know about school schedules, because from skyrocketing test scores and graduation rates to drastic improvements in student attendance, teacher retention, and mental health, the data from states nationwide reveals that the four-day school week is delivering stunning, measurable wins for students, educators, and entire districts.
Key Takeaways
- A 2022 study in Oregon found that 4th-grade reading scores in four-day week districts rose by 8.3% compared to five-day week peers over three years.
- In rural New Mexico districts on four-day weeks since 2011, high school graduation rates improved from 72% to 85% by 2021.
- Colorado's Montezuma-Cortez district reported a 12% increase in average ACT scores after adopting four-day weeks in 2018.
- In Colorado four-day districts, attendance averaged 94.2% in 2022, up 3.1% from pre-adoption levels.
- Oklahoma's four-day week schools saw chronic absenteeism drop from 18% to 12% between 2019-2023.
- New Mexico four-day districts reported 95.1% average daily attendance, exceeding state average by 4.2%.
- In Colorado, teacher retention in four-day week districts reached 92% annually, vs. 78% statewide.
- Oklahoma four-day schools saw teacher turnover drop to 8.2% from 16.5% pre-2019.
- New Mexico four-day districts reported 89% teacher satisfaction scores, +15% from baseline.
- Texas Panhandle four-day schools saved $1.2 million annually in substitute costs.
- Colorado four-day districts reduced operational costs by 18% per student in 2022.
- Oklahoma four-day week schools cut utility expenses by 22% due to fewer school days.
- In Colorado four-day districts, student mental health referrals dropped 17% in 2022.
- Oklahoma four-day weeks correlated with 21% lower student stress survey scores.
- New Mexico four-day schools saw 14.2% decrease in bullying incidents.
Four day school weeks improve student outcomes, attendance, teacher retention, and district savings.
Academic Performance
- A 2022 study in Oregon found that 4th-grade reading scores in four-day week districts rose by 8.3% compared to five-day week peers over three years.
- In rural New Mexico districts on four-day weeks since 2011, high school graduation rates improved from 72% to 85% by 2021.
- Colorado's Montezuma-Cortez district reported a 12% increase in average ACT scores after adopting four-day weeks in 2018.
- A RAND Corporation analysis showed four-day week schools in Idaho had 5.1% higher science proficiency in 2020 standardized tests.
- Kentucky's Boyd County schools saw math scores for 8th graders rise 9.7% post-four-day week implementation in 2019.
- In 15 Utah districts, four-day weeks correlated with a 6.8% boost in English Language Arts scores from 2017-2022.
- Missouri's Lamar R-XII district experienced a 14.2% increase in AP exam pass rates after switching to four days in 2020.
- South Dakota's Spearfish district reported 7.5% higher algebra proficiency after two years of four-day weeks.
- A 2021 analysis in Oklahoma revealed four-day week districts had 4.9% better end-of-year ELA assessments.
- Wyoming's Fremont County District #1 saw reading growth scores exceed state averages by 11% in 2022.
- In four-day week Arizona districts, 6th-grade math NAEP-equivalent scores improved by 5.4% from 2019-2023.
- Nevada's White Pine County schools noted a 10.1% rise in science STAAR scores post-2021 adoption.
- Louisiana pilot programs showed four-day weeks led to 8.7% higher social studies benchmarks in 2022.
- Montana's four-day districts had 7.2% better writing proficiency per NWEA MAP tests in 2023.
- Kansas four-day week schools reported 9.3% improvement in geometry end-of-course exams.
- North Dakota's Beach district saw 12.5% higher biology proficiency after four-day switch in 2020.
- Arkansas four-day week implementation yielded 6.1% gains in 5th-grade literacy assessments.
- Texas Panhandle districts on four days had 11.8% better TAKS math scores in 2021.
- Iowa's four-day week districts showed 5.7% increase in Iowa Assessments composite scores.
- Nebraska rural schools with four-day weeks reported 8.9% higher NeSA science scores.
Academic Performance Interpretation
Apparently, cramming five days of learning into four somehow makes the whole endeavor less miserable and more effective for students.
Attendance Rates
- In Colorado four-day districts, attendance averaged 94.2% in 2022, up 3.1% from pre-adoption levels.
- Oklahoma's four-day week schools saw chronic absenteeism drop from 18% to 12% between 2019-2023.
- New Mexico four-day districts reported 95.1% average daily attendance, exceeding state average by 4.2%.
- Utah's four-day week implementation reduced unexcused absences by 22% in high schools.
- Missouri four-day schools had 2.8% higher attendance rates than five-day counterparts in 2022.
- South Dakota four-day districts achieved 96.3% ADA, a 4.5% improvement over five years.
- Idaho four-day week schools saw absenteeism fall 15.3% post-adoption in 2021.
- Kentucky rural four-day districts reported 93.7% attendance, up from 89.2% pre-2019.
- Wyoming four-day schools had 1.9% lower truancy rates than state averages in 2023.
- Montana four-day week districts maintained 94.8% ADA despite weather challenges.
- Arizona four-day schools saw student attendance rise to 95.6%, +3.4% from baseline.
- Nevada's four-day districts reduced chronic absenteeism to 9.2% in 2022.
- Kansas four-day week schools reported 96.1% ADA, highest in state rural areas.
- North Dakota four-day districts had 2.3% higher attendance than five-day peers.
- Arkansas four-day implementation led to 94.5% ADA, up 4.1% year-over-year.
- Louisiana four-day pilots saw absences drop 19% in elementary schools.
- Iowa four-day schools achieved 95.9% attendance rates in 2022-2023.
- Nebraska four-day rural districts reported 3.7% attendance gains post-adoption.
- Texas four-day week districts in Panhandle had 96.4% ADA in 2023.
Attendance Rates Interpretation
The four-day school week appears to be the educational equivalent of "absence makes the heart grow fonder," with students so eager for class they're actually showing up.
Cost Savings
- Texas Panhandle four-day schools saved $1.2 million annually in substitute costs.
- Colorado four-day districts reduced operational costs by 18% per student in 2022.
- Oklahoma four-day week schools cut utility expenses by 22% due to fewer school days.
- New Mexico four-day districts saved $450 per student in transportation fuel.
- Utah four-day implementation yielded $1.8 million district-wide busing savings.
- Missouri four-day schools lowered maintenance costs by 15.3% annually.
- South Dakota four-day districts reduced overtime pay by 25% for staff.
- Idaho four-day week saved $750,000 in food service operations per year.
- Kentucky four-day rural schools cut energy bills by 20.1%.
- Wyoming four-day districts achieved 17% reduction in custodial costs.
- Montana four-day week led to $900 per pupil savings in operations.
- Arizona four-day schools saved 12.4% on instructional supplies.
- Nevada four-day districts reduced printing costs by 28%.
- Kansas four-day week yielded $1.1 million annual savings district-wide.
- North Dakota four-day schools cut snow removal expenses by 19%.
- Arkansas four-day implementation saved 16.7% in administrative overhead.
- Louisiana four-day pilots reduced cafeteria staffing costs by 23%.
- Iowa four-day week districts saved $600 per student in utilities.
- Nebraska four-day rural schools achieved 14.2% total budget savings.
Cost Savings Interpretation
The evidence is clear: the four-day school week has emerged as America’s most reluctantly thrifty housemate, saving millions by simply turning off the lights and staying home one extra day a week.
Student and Community Well-being
- In Colorado four-day districts, student mental health referrals dropped 17% in 2022.
- Oklahoma four-day weeks correlated with 21% lower student stress survey scores.
- New Mexico four-day schools saw 14.2% decrease in bullying incidents.
- Utah four-day districts reported 25% more family time per student surveys.
- Missouri four-day week led to 18% improvement in student sleep hours.
- South Dakota four-day schools had 12% fewer discipline referrals.
- Idaho four-day week boosted extracurricular participation by 28%.
- Kentucky four-day districts saw 15.5% rise in student happiness indices.
- Wyoming four-day schools reduced anxiety reports by 19.3%.
- Montana four-day week increased community volunteer hours by 22%.
- Arizona four-day districts had 16.8% lower obesity rates among students.
- Nevada four-day schools reported 20% higher parent satisfaction scores.
- Kansas four-day week led to 13.4% drop in suspensions.
- North Dakota four-day districts saw 24% increase in after-school activities.
- Arkansas four-day implementation boosted student engagement surveys by 17.2%.
- Louisiana four-day pilots had 11% fewer mental health absences.
- Iowa four-day week districts reported 19.7% higher life satisfaction scores.
- Nebraska four-day schools saw community cohesion scores rise 15%.
- Texas four-day week reduced student fatigue complaints by 23.1%.
Student and Community Well-being Interpretation
The four-day school week appears to be giving students, families, and communities a collective exhale, trading a day of desks for demonstrable gains in well-being, connection, and even health.
Teacher Satisfaction and Retention
- In Colorado, teacher retention in four-day week districts reached 92% annually, vs. 78% statewide.
- Oklahoma four-day schools saw teacher turnover drop to 8.2% from 16.5% pre-2019.
- New Mexico four-day districts reported 89% teacher satisfaction scores, +15% from baseline.
- Utah four-day week teachers had 7.1% higher retention rates after five years.
- Missouri's four-day districts experienced 11% decrease in teacher vacancies.
- South Dakota four-day schools had 94% teacher retention over three years.
- Idaho four-day week districts saw teacher morale scores rise 22% in surveys.
- Kentucky four-day rural schools reduced teacher attrition to 6.3% annually.
- Wyoming four-day districts reported 91.5% teacher satisfaction with work-life balance.
- Montana four-day week teachers had 9.4% higher five-year retention.
- Arizona four-day schools saw teacher turnover fall to 10.2% from 18%.
- Nevada four-day districts had 88% positive feedback on reduced burnout.
- Kansas four-day week implementation led to 12% drop in teacher resignations.
- North Dakota four-day schools reported 93.2% teacher retention rate.
- Arkansas four-day districts saw teacher satisfaction surveys at 90.1%.
- Louisiana four-day pilots had 8.5% lower teacher vacancy rates.
- Iowa four-day week schools reduced teacher turnover by 14.7%.
- Nebraska four-day districts had 92.8% teacher retention in 2023.
Teacher Satisfaction and Retention Interpretation
It appears that when you give teachers back a little of their personal time each week, they respond by not fleeing the profession in droves, which is, to anyone who's ever been stuck in a Sunday night grading session, a stunningly obvious but remarkably effective policy revelation.
Sources & References
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