As the COVID-19 pandemic has spread across the U.S. and the world, nearly every part of daily life has been disrupted. For children, this has meant that the school year has been put on hold. As states have largely been left in charge of the details of their coronavirus response, governors and education departments have taken varying stances on when to shut down schools and for how long.Â
Some states have effectively cancelled classes for the rest of the academic year, while others are hoping to come back in April. Some governors were much more proactive than others, cancelling classes in mid-March. One state did not institute school closures until April.
24/7 Wall St. reviewed data gathered by Education Week, an independent news organization covering K-12 education data and policy, which lists school cancellations by state due to the coronavirus. The K-12 population for both public and private schools came from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2018 American Community Survey. Data on COVID-19 cases per capita came from the New York Times and is accurate as of Apr. 5.
Education Week noted that five states — California, Florida, Kentucky, South Dakota, and Tennessee — recommended that schools be closed, but in many cases the decision to shut down was left to the local level. All schools in these states have reportedly adhered to the recommendation and were closed as of early April.
It may be impossible to know the effect that such a long hiatus will have on students, though research suggests it could harm their future educational success. Some teachers have continued educating their students using videoconferencing software. School districts that have the funding to provide these tools can help mitigate any negative effects caused by the disruption, which could help a higher share of students complete their education and reach graduation. These are the cities where the most people graduate high school.
Click here to see all the school closings by state
Source: Chris Pruitt / Wikimedia Commons
1. Alabama
> Closure status: Ordered closed for the academic year
> Closure start date: 3/19/2020
> K-12 population 717,951 public students, 91,756 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 5, 2020 37.7 per 100,000 (23rd lowest)
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2. Alaska
> Closure status: Ordered closed through 5/1/2020
> Closure start date: 3/16/2020
> K-12 population 117,717 public students, 11,842 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 5, 2020 25.1 per 100,000 (7th lowest)
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3. Arizona
> Closure status: Ordered closed for the academic year
> Closure start date: 3/16/2020
> K-12 population 1,105,961 public students, 106,350 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 5, 2020 31.6 per 100,000 (18th lowest)
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Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
4. Arkansas
> Closure status: Ordered closed for the academic year
> Closure start date: 3/17/2020
> K-12 population 461,898 public students, 45,487 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 5, 2020 28.3 per 100,000 (15th lowest)
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5. California
> Closure status: Recommended closed for the academic year
> Closure start date: 3/19/2020
> K-12 population 6,030,866 public students, 569,366 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 5, 2020 38.1 per 100,000 (24th lowest)
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6. Colorado
> Closure status: Ordered closed through 4/30/2020
> Closure start date: 3/23/2020
> K-12 population 852,291 public students, 78,705 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 5, 2020 86.9 per 100,000 (11th highest)
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7. Connecticut
> Closure status: Ordered closed through 4/20/2020
> Closure start date: 3/17/2020
> K-12 population 519,204 public students, 50,910 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 5, 2020 158.8 per 100,000 (5th highest)
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Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
8. Delaware
> Closure status: Ordered closed through 5/15/2020
> Closure start date: 3/16/2020
> K-12 population 134,428 public students, 16,197 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 5, 2020 69.6 per 100,000 (13th highest)
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Source: BRPH / Getty Images
9. Florida
> Closure status: Recommended closed through 5/1/2020
> Closure start date: 3/16/2020
> K-12 population 2,731,719 public students, 412,996 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 5, 2020 57.9 per 100,000 (19th highest)
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10. Georgia
> Closure status: Ordered closed for the academic year
> Closure start date: 3/18/2020
> K-12 population 1,706,020 public students, 185,996 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 5, 2020 64.1 per 100,000 (15th highest)
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Source: mizoula / Getty Images
11. Hawaii
> Closure status: Ordered closed through 4/30/2020
> Closure start date: 3/23/2020
> K-12 population 176,767 public students, 33,592 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 5, 2020 26.0 per 100,000 (9th lowest)
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12. Idaho
> Closure status: Ordered closed through 4/20/2020
> Closure start date: 3/23/2020
> K-12 population 295,778 public students, 28,058 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 5, 2020 62.8 per 100,000 (16th highest)
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Source: stevegeer / Getty Images
13. Illinois
> Closure status: Ordered closed through 4/30/2020
> Closure start date: 3/17/2020
> K-12 population 1,881,623 public students, 222,264 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 5, 2020 88.5 per 100,000 (9th highest)
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Source: Purdue9394 / Getty Images
14. Indiana
> Closure status: Ordered closed for the academic year
> Closure start date: 3/19/2020
> K-12 population 1,011,025 public students, 136,697 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 5, 2020 65.9 per 100,000 (14th highest)
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Source: tabor-roeder / Flickr
15. Iowa
> Closure status: Ordered closed through 4/30/2020
> Closure start date: 3/16/2020
> K-12 population 489,412 public students, 43,754 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 5, 2020 27.5 per 100,000 (13th lowest)
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Source: sframephoto / Getty Images
16. Kansas
> Closure status: Ordered closed for the academic year
> Closure start date: 3/18/2020
> K-12 population 456,208 public students, 60,100 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 5, 2020 26.2 per 100,000 (10th lowest)
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17. Kentucky
> Closure status: Recommended closed through 5/1/2020
> Closure start date: 3/16/2020
> K-12 population 636,069 public students, 91,214 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 5, 2020 23.5 per 100,000 (4th lowest)
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Source: huseyintuncer / Getty Images
18. Louisiana
> Closure status: Ordered closed through 4/30/2020
> Closure start date: 3/16/2020
> K-12 population 664,317 public students, 135,672 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 5, 2020 279.2 per 100,000 (3rd highest)
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19. Maine
> Closure status: Ordered closed through 5/1/2020
> Closure start date: 4/2/2020
> K-12 population 159,980 public students, 20,902 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 5, 2020 35.1 per 100,000 (22nd lowest)
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Source: CynthiaAnnF / Getty Images
20. Maryland
> Closure status: Ordered closed through 4/24/2020
> Closure start date: 3/16/2020
> K-12 population 837,433 public students, 140,304 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 5, 2020 59.7 per 100,000 (18th highest)
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Source: maenvirothon / Flickr
21. Massachusetts
> Closure status: Ordered closed through 5/1/2020
> Closure start date: 3/17/2020
> K-12 population 922,102 public students, 102,513 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 5, 2020 181.1 per 100,000 (4th highest)
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22. Michigan
> Closure status: Ordered closed for the academic year
> Closure start date: 3/16/2020
> K-12 population 1,437,816 public students, 160,101 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 5, 2020 156.4 per 100,000 (6th highest)
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23. Minnesota
> Closure status: Ordered closed through 5/4/2020
> Closure start date: 3/18/2020
> K-12 population 852,197 public students, 88,556 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 5, 2020 16.7 per 100,000 (the lowest)
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Source: C5Media / Getty Images
24. Mississippi
> Closure status: Ordered closed through 4/17/2020
> Closure start date: 3/20/2020
> K-12 population 473,242 public students, 59,780 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 5, 2020 54.8 per 100,000 (20th highest)
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25. Missouri
> Closure status: Ordered closed through 4/24/2020
> Closure start date: 3/19/2020
> K-12 population 864,070 public students, 129,954 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 5, 2020 38.6 per 100,000 (25th lowest)
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26. Montana
> Closure status: Ordered closed through 4/10/2020
> Closure start date: 3/16/2020
> K-12 population 148,981 public students, 15,274 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 5, 2020 28.1 per 100,000 (14th lowest)
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27. Nebraska
> Closure status: Ordered closed for the academic year
> Closure start date: 3/23/2020
> K-12 population 291,513 public students, 46,104 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 5, 2020 19.5 per 100,000 (3rd lowest)
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Source: Joshua McDonald / Getty Images
28. Nevada
> Closure status: Ordered closed through 4/30/2020
> Closure start date: 3/16/2020
> K-12 population 470,855 public students, 34,422 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 5, 2020 62.0 per 100,000 (17th highest)
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Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
29. New Hampshire
> Closure status: Ordered closed through 5/4/2020
> Closure start date: 3/16/2020
> K-12 population 177,220 public students, 20,102 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 5, 2020 49.3 per 100,000 (23rd highest)
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30. New Jersey
> Closure status: Ordered closed until further notice
> Closure start date: 3/18/2020
> K-12 population 1,289,473 public students, 159,702 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 5, 2020 421.0 per 100,000 (2nd highest)
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Source: Mathieu LE MAUFF / Getty Images
31. New Mexico
> Closure status: Ordered closed for the academic year
> Closure start date: 3/16/2020 (the earliest – tied)
> K-12 population 335,637 public students, 24,846 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 5, 2020 29.8 per 100,000 (16th lowest)
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32. New York
> Closure status: Ordered closed through 4/29/2020
> Closure start date: 3/18/2020
> K-12 population 2,534,989 public students, 423,887 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 5, 2020 629.0 per 100,000 (the highest)
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Source: J. Michael Jones / Getty Images
33. North Carolina
> Closure status: Ordered closed through 5/15/2020
> Closure start date: 3/16/2020
> K-12 population 1,507,775 public students, 185,376 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 5, 2020 24.9 per 100,000 (6th lowest)
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34. North Dakota
> Closure status: Ordered closed until further notice
> Closure start date: 3/16/2020
> K-12 population 108,224 public students, 9,045 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 5, 2020 27.2 per 100,000 (12th lowest)
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35. Ohio
> Closure status: Ordered closed through 5/1/2020
> Closure start date: 3/17/2020
> K-12 population 1,636,946 public students, 249,855 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 5, 2020 34.6 per 100,000 (20th lowest)
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Source: Majestic_Aerials / Getty Images
36. Oklahoma
> Closure status: Ordered closed for the academic year
> Closure start date: 3/17/2020 (23rd earliest – tied)
> K-12 population 636,212 public students, 65,158 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 5, 2020 31.8 per 100,000 (19th lowest)
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37. Oregon
> Closure status: Ordered closed through 4/28/2020
> Closure start date: 3/16/2020
> K-12 population 578,233 public students, 63,882 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 5, 2020 25.5 per 100,000 (8th lowest)
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Source: CynthiaAnnF / Getty Images
38. Pennsylvania
> Closure status: Ordered closed until further notice
> Closure start date: 3/16/2020
> K-12 population 1,668,287 public students, 267,154 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 5, 2020 90.5 per 100,000 (8th highest)
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Source: rienvirothon / Flickr
39. Rhode Island
> Closure status: Ordered closed through 4/30/2020
> Closure start date: 3/23/2020
> K-12 population 130,549 public students, 18,962 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 5, 2020 87.2 per 100,000 (10th highest)
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Source: CynthiaAnnF / Getty Images
40. South Carolina
> Closure status: Ordered closed through 4/30/2020
> Closure start date: 3/16/2020
> K-12 population 749,306 public students, 77,729 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 5, 2020 40.3 per 100,000 (24th highest)
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41. South Dakota
> Closure status: Recommended closed for the academic year
> Closure start date: 3/16/2020
> K-12 population 139,392 public students, 12,913 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 5, 2020 27.2 per 100,000 (11th lowest)
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Source: TennesseePhotographer / Getty Images
42. Tennessee
> Closure status: Recommended closed through 4/24/2020
> Closure start date: 3/20/2020
> K-12 population 954,719 public students, 146,172 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 5, 2020 52.3 per 100,000 (21st highest)
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Source: dszc / Getty Images
43. Texas
> Closure status: Ordered closed through 5/4/2020
> Closure start date: 3/23/2020
> K-12 population 5,042,134 public students, 376,168 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 5, 2020 24.7 per 100,000 (5th lowest)
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Source: krblokhin / Getty Images
44. Utah
> Closure status: Ordered closed through 5/1/2020
> Closure start date: 3/16/2020
> K-12 population 640,073 public students, 41,497 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 5, 2020 50.8 per 100,000 (22nd highest)
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45. Vermont
> Closure status: Ordered closed for the academic year
> Closure start date: 3/18/2020
> K-12 population 75,700 public students, 8,371 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 5, 2020 81.8 per 100,000 (12th highest)
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Source: krblokhin / Getty Images
46. Virginia
> Closure status: Ordered closed for the academic year
> Closure start date: 3/16/2020
> K-12 population 1,235,489 public students, 145,735 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 5, 2020 31.0 per 100,000 (17th lowest)
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Source: Jetta Productions / Getty Images
47. Washington
> Closure status: Ordered closed for the academic year
> Closure start date: 3/17/2020
> K-12 population 1,075,506 public students, 113,589 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 5, 2020 106.0 per 100,000 (7th highest)
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Source: Roberto Galan / Getty Images
48. West Virginia
> Closure status: Ordered closed through 4/30/2020
> Closure start date: 3/16/2020
> K-12 population 243,231 public students, 20,520 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 5, 2020 17.9 per 100,000 (2nd lowest)
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49. Wisconsin
> Closure status: Ordered closed through 4/23/2020
> Closure start date: 3/18/2020
> K-12 population 814,236 public students, 127,878 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 5, 2020 39.0 per 100,000 (25th highest)
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Source: nida-nih / Flickr
50. Wyoming
> Closure status: Ordered closed through 4/30/2020
> Closure start date: 3/20/2020
> K-12 population 91,146 public students, 6,694 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 5, 2020 34.6 per 100,000 (21st lowest)
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