No one likes homework, and many kids have a tough time meeting demanding homework standards. As a parent, it’s vitally important that you’re able to help your kids succeed, which may mean understanding how your child’s schooling needs will grow and change over time. That may lead you to ask many different questions. Which states have the most homework? How can you translate that work into success? Here’s what you need to know.
Different States Have Different Average Amounts of Homework
The amount of homework any given person has varies by grade, school, and state. It’s true: different states actually have different amounts of homework on average. Although there’s no one state with the highest or lowest average across every grade level, you can still see some interesting information just by looking at statewide information.
For example, Rhode Island is one of the lowest across the board. This state boasts ties for the lowest elementary and middle school average, the lowest high school average, and the third-lowest college average.
The Average Homework Amount Increases Through the Years
As you may have assumed, the average amount of homework a kid takes home every day tends to increase through grades. On average across all states, elementary and middle school kids spend 42.4 minutes each night, high school kids spend 78 minutes each night, and college kids spend 116 minutes per night.
Interestingly, averages don’t overlap in grade school, but some high schoolers may have more homework than some college students. Even the highest average for elementary and middle school students, which is California at 56 minutes, is lower than the lowest average for high school, which is a three-way tie with Utah, Rhode Island, and Kansas at 60 minutes. However, Vermont’s high school average of 110 minutes is nearly half an hour more than Delaware’s college average of 85 minutes.
There’s a Pretty Substantial Discrepancy Between the Highest and Lowest Averages
These overall numbers may be able to give you a generally useful idea of the fact that homework increases throughout the years, but looking at states on an individual level will give you an even better picture. That’s because the discrepancy between the states with the highest and lowest averages tends to be pretty substantial.
In elementary and middle school, the lowest average is 30 minutes in Nevada, Kansas, and Rhode Island, while the highest is 56 minutes in California. In high school, the lowest average is 60 minutes in Utah, Rhode Island, and Kansas, while the highest is 110 minutes in Vermont. In college,
More Homework Doesn’t Typically Produce Higher Grades
This wealth of homework ostensibly works to produce better grades for kids by offering more ways for these kids to work on the things they’re learning. The thing is, the evidence doesn’t back it up. Overall, there isn’t any correlation between the amount of homework on average and the state’s average SAT scores or GPA.
Because of this lack of evidence, you may want to focus instead on things that systematically produce higher grades, such as tutoring lessons and online resource options. Don’t assume that the length or amount of homework will have any impact on your child’s grades or life readiness.
Work With Your Child, Not for the School
It’s tempting to take the school’s side on homework, especially if you also had a lot of homework when you were a kid. However, it’s even more important to work closely with your child. After all, it doesn’t make sense to subject your child to frustration and headache just because you had to go through it as well, especially if it probably won’t inform your child’s future. Instead, sit down with your child and talk about potential ways to avoid these issues and find a better way to study.
