Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Free and Compulsory School Age Requirements

  • 05/05/15

Denver, Colo. — More and more, state policymakers are exploring options to increase the age range that a student is required to attend school -- with goals of boosting high school graduation rates and creating a better prepared workforce that can meet the needs of modern employers.

States not only are extending the upper limit for mandatory school age, many also are pushing for earlier access to free education for the youngest students. A new 50-state review from Education Commission of the States, Free and compulsory school age requirements, addresses three main components:

  • At what age is a district required to provide free public education to students, and at what age is it no longer required?
  • At what age does compulsory school attendance begin and end?
  • How many years total is a student required to attend school?

"Expanding the age range in which students are permitted and required to attend school receives significant attention," said Stephanie Aragon, a researcher for Education Commission of the States. "This 50-state review provides a snapshot of where states have landed on school age requirements."

Some highlights from the report:

  • To date, 24 states and the District of Columbia require students to attend school until they turn 18.
  • In Massachusetts, children as young as 3 years old are considered to be of school age.
  • Students are required to remain in school for as few as nine years and as many as 13 years, depending on the state.

For questions, contact Education Commission of the States Director of Communications Amy Skinner at [email protected] or (303) 299. 3609.

Featured

  • 144-Year-Old High-School Campus Debuts New Academic Facility

    San Diego High School (SDHS) in San Diego, Calif., recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new student services and classroom building; the project is part of a larger SDHS Whole Site Modernization project that began in 2022.

  • Tennessee Middle School Completes Health, Life Safety Renovations

    The Giles County Board of Education in Pulaski, Tenn., recently announced that a series of renovation projects has been completed at Bridgeforth Middle School, according to a news release. The district partnered with Wold Architects & Engineers and Brindley Construction to modernize building systems at one of the district’s oldest schools.

  • College of the Desert Hits Construction Milestone on New Campus

    College of the Desert recently announced that the construction of its new Palm Springs Campus in Palm Springs, Calif., recently reached a major construction milestone, according to a news release. The college is partnering with general contractor C.W. Driver Companies, which recently “topped out” the facility by placing the final beam in its structure.

  • USC Launches Major AI Initiative After $200M Gift

    The University of Southern California in Los Angeles, Calif., recently announced that it has launched a “transformational” new AI initiative thanks to a $200M gift, according to a news release. The project will leverage AI toward breakthroughs and innovations in subjects like the health sciences, business, security, and the arts.