A 180 day school year is 36 weeks of five days. That is the math behind almost every homeschool calendar, and it is easier to see when it is laid out a week at a time. Use this planner in the summer to block out your start date, breaks, and testing windows before the year gets away from you.
What is on the sheet
- 36 numbered weeks, one row each
- A date range column so you can anchor weeks to real calendar dates
- A focus column for the theme, unit, or chapter that week
- A goals column for what you want finished by Friday
How to use it
-
1
Pick your start date
Work backward from when you want to finish. Most families start in August or September and end in May.
-
2
Block out your breaks first
Holidays, family travel, and a week off each quarter. Planning breaks in prevents the guilt of taking them later.
-
3
Fill the date ranges
Write the Monday of each week. This turns the planner into a real calendar you can check yourself against.
-
4
Add a focus per week
One theme or chapter per subject is enough. Detail belongs in your daily log, not here.
-
5
Revisit it monthly
Sliding two weeks behind is normal. Adjust the plan rather than abandoning it.
Common questions
How many weeks is a homeschool year?
Thirty six weeks of five days is 180 days, which matches the most common state requirement. Families who school four days a week usually run 45 weeks, and year round families spread the same days across 12 months.
Do I have to follow the public school calendar?
No. Only a handful of states tie homeschool dates to the district calendar. Most let you set your own start and end dates as long as you hit the day or hour minimum.
What if we fall behind the plan?
Adjust the plan. The planner is a map, not a contract. What your state cares about is the days and hours you actually logged, which is what an attendance tracker records.
Can I plan a four day school week?
Yes, and many families do. Four days a week over 45 weeks still reaches 180 days. If your state counts hours instead of days, four longer days can be simpler than five short ones.
Free Printable Homeschool Year Planner
Free PDF, no account needed. Print as many copies as you want.
Download the PDFRather not track it by hand?
Homeschool Fox logs hours and attendance as you go, checks them against your state's requirement, and builds the compliance report when you need it.
Want new printables as we add them?
We'll email you when we add new free printables, plus occasional homeschool tips. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
More free printables
Free Printable Homeschool Attendance Tracker
Log the date, subjects, and hours by hand. One sheet per month.
Free Printable Homeschool Reading Log
Track books read, author, and minutes. Useful for portfolios and reading goals.
Free Printable High School Credit Tracker
Log courses, credits, and grades toward graduation across four years.