MDR’s annual update to its comprehensive national school database shows a consistent national shift toward earlier opening dates and earlier closing dates over the past 20 years.

Open Date Trends

For the 2011-2012 school year, 75% of schools reported an opening date prior to September 1 (compared with just over 50% in the late 1980s).

School Opening Date Trends 1988-2011 Academic Years

The most common period for school openings is between August 16 and August 31. There are, however, major regional differences, with nearly 44% of districts in the Southeast opening August 15 or earlier and virtually no districts in the Northeast opening that early.

2011-2012 District Opening Dates by Region

Closing Date Trends

Closing dates have also continued to shift to earlier in the calendar year. In 2011-2012, 42% of schools will close before June 1, compared with just 24% in the late 1980s.

School Closing Date Trends 1988-2011 Academic Years

Regional differences in closing dates are also significant. In the Southwest, 76% of schools close before June 1, while only 2% close during that same time period in the Northeast.

2011-2012 District Closing Dates by Region

State Counts Table of 2011-2012 School Year Public School Open and Close Dates »

Call your MDR Representative at 800-333-8802 for counts and more information about open and close dates.