Education is changing. For a long time, K–12 learning meant going to a physical school, but today, children are starting to turn to the online alternative.
The differences between online and traditional schools are numerous enough to bring up an important question: is an online school day the same as a traditional one?
We will look at the numbers to see how much time students in the U.S. and Europe spend studying, both in traditional schools and how our online school, EduWW, addresses that.
We will also give our argumentation to why, in this case, less is more.
How Much Time Do K–12 Students Spend Studying in the US?
Time Spent in School
A 2024 analysis using the 2017–18 National Teacher and Principal Survey (NTPS) estimates that U.S. public K–12 schools are in session an average of 6.90 hours per day for 178.59 days per year, totaling about 1,231 instructional hours annually. (Source, p. 23).
Private schools show nearly identical figures. The NCES Private School Universe Survey (2017–18) reports an average of 6.8 hours per day over 179.8 days per year, which equals about 1,222 hours annually (source).
Taken together, U.S. K–12 students spend around 1,225 hours per year in school classes — a little under 7 hours per day of structured instructional time.
Time Spent on Homework and Out-of-School Study
Learning doesn’t stop when the school bell rings. The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) tracks homework patterns in its Digest of Education Statistics.
In 2019, the average American student reported spending about 50–60 minutes per school day on homework, with younger children closer to 50 minutes and older students closer to 60–90 minutes.
Total Estimated Study Time (School + Homework)
Combining these sources, we arrive at:
- In-school learning: ~1,231 hours/year;
- Homework/out-of-school studying: ~180 hours/year (based on ~1 hour/day over 180 days);
- Total: ~1,410 hours/year, or approximately 7.8 hours of learning per school day.
This workload roughly resembles a full-time job schedule for students—an important fact when discussing student stress, time allocation, or educational policy.
How Much Time Do K–12 Students Spend Studying Around the World (OECD Data)?
Let’s not take a look at students who attend grades equivalent to the U.S. K–12 school period around the world.
Note: We will mostly be using OECD Data to determine the averages so this data applies to OECD member countries.
This will give us a rough estimate for many countries around the world
📚 Total Classroom Instruction Time Per Year
The data for in-school time comes from the OECD’s “Education at a Glance” reports, which provide a comprehensive overview of education systems across member countries.
- Total hours per year:
- Primary pupils: The OECD average is 805 hours per year. (Source: OECD Education at a Glance 2023)
- Lower-secondary pupils: The OECD average is 916 hours per year. (Source: OECD Education at a Glance 2023)
- Average hours per day:
- Primary pupils: Approximately 4.5 hours per day (805 hours / 180 days).
- Lower-secondary pupils: Approximately 5.1 hours per day (916 hours / 180 days).
Homework and Out-of-School Study
Here is what Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) data says on homework hours.
- Total hours per year:
- According to a 2015 PISA data analysis, 15-year-old pupils in OECD countries spend an average of 17 hours per week on activities like homework, additional instruction, and private study.
- This equates to approximately 646 hours per year (17 hours/week x 38 weeks/year). It is important to note that this is an average and can vary by country.
- Average hours per day:
- Based on a 5-day school week, this amounts to 3.4 hours per day on homework and other out-of-school study (17 hours / 5 days).
Total Estimated Study Time (Combined)
When you combine the in-school and out-of-school study times, the totals are significantly higher than the original claim.
- Total hours per year (Lower-secondary):
- In-school total average: 860.5 hours/year ( [916+805] / 2 – calculated average between primary and lower secondary students for the purpose of simplicity, official OECD data reports them separately);
- Homework/studying: 646 hours/year (for 15 year-olds);
- Total: Approximately 1,562 hours per year.
- Average hours per day (Lower-secondary):
- Based on a 180-day school year, this averages out to approximately 8.7 hours of learning per day.
Note: All data presented here are rough estimates. The purpose of the data collected is to present how much an average traditional school student in Grades 9–12 spends time for school work in total per school day. The data varies a lot by grades, demographics and countries. These estimates will be used in order to compare the hours spent in traditional school with the time spent studying in an online school with a self-paced learning schedule.
Let’s Talk About Online K–12 Schools
Traditional schools have a fixed schedule: students sit in classrooms for about 6.8–6.9 hours per day and spend an additional 50–90 minutes on homework, depending on age. That totals roughly 7.8–8.7 hours of school-related work per day, as we discussed earlier.
While structured, this schedule leaves little flexibility for students to manage their time differently or pursue other interests during the school day.
For online schools, on the other hand, this data is hard to collect. Mostly because students do not have strict schedules of classes.
Another reason is that many online K–12 schools are different, so we at EduWW will speak for ourselves.
Unlike traditional schools, we take different approach
Self-Paced Learning
Students can complete lessons, assignments, and exams when it works best for them, as long as they meet the deadlines. Students who work quickly can finish early and have more time for hobbies, sports, or creative projects. Those who need more time can go at their own pace without stress.
This way of learning makes study time more efficient and gives students the freedom to grow and explore in many areas of life.
Optional Tutoring and Live Classes
Unlike traditional schools, most EduWW students are not required to attend live classes. If they need extra help, they can schedule one-on-one sessions with tutors.
This system ensures that classroom time is used only when it adds value, unlike traditional schools where all students must sit through lessons regardless of their understanding of the material.
24/7 Access to Learning Materials
All courses are hosted on EduWW’s Distance Learning Platform (LMS). Students can access lessons, practice exercises, and study resources anytime, anywhere, whether at home, traveling, or visiting another country. This eliminates the time wasted commuting and allows students to learn in the environment that suits them best.
Geographical Freedom
EduWW students are not tied to a physical location. As long as they have an internet connection, they can study, take tests, and submit assignments from anywhere in the world.
This flexibility is impossible in traditional schools, which require daily attendance and often constrain students geographically.
Why Online Learning Can Be More Efficient
Comparing EduWW to traditional K–12 schooling highlights several efficiency advantages:
| Factor | Traditional School | EduWW Online School |
|---|---|---|
| Daily structured hours | ~6.8–6.9 hours | Self-paced; students decide how much time to spend |
| Daily homework/study | ~50–90 min | Included in self-paced learning; completed as needed |
| Total learning per day | ~7.8–8.7 hours | Can be completed faster; frees time for other activities |
| Flexibility | None | Full flexibility: study anytime, anywhere |
| Access to materials | Limited to classroom/homework | 24/7 LMS access |
| Location dependency | Must attend school physically | Fully remote; global access |
In short, a typical school day takes up most of a student’s time, but EduWW gives the same education in a more flexible way.
Students still meet all academic requirements, but they also have the freedom to plan their day, explore their passions, and keep a healthy balance between school and life.
That means that by enrolling to online schools, particularly EduWW, students may save several hours a day and still have the same academic results as their peers in traditional schools.
Time is the most important resource, because it is the only resource that can never be compensated if lost. That is why it is our mission as an online school not only to make quality education as accessible to the whole world as possible, but also to make it more efficient.
Because the school is there for the students, not the other way around.
