1. America
    Costa Rica  United States 

2. Asia
    India   Israel   Philippines  Qatar  Singapore  Japan 

3. Europe
    Greece  Poland  Russia  United Kingdom  England and Wales  Scotland  Slovenia 

4. References

The first day of school is the first day of an academic year. This is usually in August or September in the Northern Hemisphere and January or February in the Southern Hemisphere, but differs from country to country.

America

Costa Rica

The first day of school in Costa Rica is in early February. The Education Ministry changes the date every year to ensure 200 effective days are in the school calendar.^[1]

United States

In the United States, educational policy is determined primarily at the state level and at the level of individual school districts. Therefore, there is no one particular day on which all schools start. During much of the 20th century, it was common for schools to start shortly after Labor Day, and in some areas of the United States, this is still the norm. However, it has become increasingly common for schools to start earlier in August or even late July.

In 2018, the summer holidays started on July 7, 2018 and ended on September 2, 2018.^[2] For example, in San Diego Unified School District, San Diego, California, the first day of school for the 2017-18 school year was set to August 28.^[3]

Asia

India

In India the schools re-open in June after summer holidays. This applies to whole of K-12 including elementary, secondary and higher secondary schools. Schools are closed for summer holidays after annual examinations in the month of March. Thus the students receive two months of holidays from the end of March to the beginning of June.

Israel

The first day of elementary school in Israel is on September 1, or the following day if September 1 is a Saturday. Many secondary schools begin the same day.

Philippines

The government school calendar in the Philippines usually begins in June every year. However, private schools have the exception to deviate from the calendar as regulated by Republic Act No. 7797. Some colleges or universities may start the school year in August.

The school year must consist of 200 but not more than 220 days.^[4]

Qatar

The first day of school in Qatar is on September 15, along with some of the Arab World countries.^[5]

Singapore

The school year for all Singapore primary and secondary schools starts from early January and end sometime in November. This takes into account 40 weeks of curriculum time for teaching and learning before the start of the national examinations, and six weeks of school vacation at end of the year for teachers and students.^[6]

Japan

The first day of school in Japan (for all schools) is on either April 7th or 8th. School usually ends on the 24th of March, giving the students one week between the years. School starts in April because that is the time Sakura, or Cherry Blossoms, bloom, making for a perfect start-of-the-year and end-of-the-year photo.

Europe

Greece

The first day of school in Greece is September 11, or the first Monday following if September 11 is a Saturday or Sunday.^[7]

Poland

According to a 2010 decree of Polish Minister of Public Education, the first day of school for regular compulsory education schools in Poland is on September 1 or the first following Monday if September 1 falls on Friday, Saturday or Sunday. The last day is the last Friday after 18th of June. ^[8] Previously, according to a similar 2002 decree, the above exception was only for Saturday and Sunday, and the last day was the first Friday after June 18.^[9]

Russia

Schools in Russia (and formerly Soviet Union) historically begin on September 1. This exact date for the country has

been fixed by the Decree of the Council of the People's Commissars in 1935^[10] and was established officially by the Decree of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union No. 3018-X in 1980. In 1984, September 1 was officially declared to be the Knowledge Day.^[11] If it falls on Sunday, most schools opt to hold on Sunday a traditional ceremonial line-up, which symbolically commences the school year, and begin actual lessons on Monday. Traditionally students bring flowers to the teachers.

United Kingdom

England and Wales

The first day of school for state schools in England and Wales varies by local authority and sometimes by school, but it is nearly always during the first week of September, or occasionally in the second week.^[12]

Scotland

The school term in Scotland begins in mid- to late-August, more than a week earlier than in the rest of the UK. The precise date varies by local authority and sometimes by school.^[13]

Slovenia

The first day of school in Slovenia is on September 1, or the first Monday following if September 1 falls on Saturday or Sunday

References

• Dyscalclia
• Dyscalcula
• Dyscalculus
• Dyschezia
• Dyschromatopsia
• Dyschromatosis universalis hereditaria
• Dyscophinae
• Dyscophus
• Dyscophus antongilii
• Dyscophus guineti
• Dyscophus insularis
• Dysdera
• Dysdera crocata
• Dysdera fasciata
• Dysderoidea
• Dysdiadochokinesia
• Dysdiadochokinesis
• Dysdiadokokinesia
• Dysdiadokokinesis
• Dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor
• Dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumour
• Dysencephalia splachnocystica or Meckel Gruber
• Dysentery, amebic
• Dysentery, bacillary
• Dysentery Gary