As more data about the spread of the coronavirus has become available, states have been updating their projections about when schools may be safe to reopen. Some states hoped to send students back to class in mid-April, but those optimistic projections have been pushed to later in the year.
24/7 Wall St. reviewed data about school cancellations due to COVID-19 by state gathered by Education Week, an independent news organization covering K-12 education data and policy. Figures on the K-12 population attending both public and private schools came from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2018 American Community Survey. Data on COVID-19 cases per capita was collected from state and local health departments by 24/7 Wall St. and is accurate as of Apr. 14.
Between April 7 and April 14, 10 states updated their school closure orders, further postponing in-person classes for millions of students. While many of the hardest hit states quickly closed schools for the entire year, many other states cancelled school for relatively short amounts of time as they had relatively few coronavirus cases. These are the states with the highest numbers of COVID-19 cases.
States have also had to adjust their projections as governors instituted more social distancing policies for public gatherings or updated them. These are every state’s rules for COVID-19 social distancing.
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. 14, 2020 83.4 per 100,000 (23rd most)
[in-text-ad]
Source: Chilkoot / Getty Images
2. Alaska
> Closure status: Ordered closed for the academic year
> Closure start date: 3/16/2020
> K-12 population 117,717 public students, 11,842 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 14, 2020 38.6 per 100,000 (4th fewest)
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. 14, 2020 55.2 per 100,000 (14th fewest)
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. 14, 2020 52.1 per 100,000 (12th fewest)
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Courtesy of Cutler-Orosi Joint Unified School District via Facebook
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. 14, 2020 65.2 per 100,000 (19th fewest)
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. 14, 2020 139.4 per 100,000 (14th most)
[in-text-ad]
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
7. Connecticut
> Closure status: Ordered closed through 5/20/2020
> Closure start date: 3/17/2020
> K-12 population 519,204 public students, 50,910 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 14, 2020 391.6 per 100,000 (5th most)
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. 14, 2020 199.1 per 100,000 (9th most)
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. 14, 2020 105.7 per 100,000 (20th most)
[in-text-ad-2]
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. 14, 2020 142.5 per 100,000 (13th most)
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. 14, 2020 36.4 per 100,000 (2nd fewest)
[in-text-ad]
12. Idaho
> Closure status: Recommended closed for the academic year
> Closure start date: 3/24/2020
> K-12 population 295,778 public students, 28,058 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 14, 2020 83.5 per 100,000 (22nd most)
24/7 Wall St.
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. 14, 2020 182.5 per 100,000 (10th most)
Source: Purdue9394 / Getty Images
14. Indiana
> Closure status: Ordered closed for the academic year
> Closure start date: 3/20/2020
> K-12 population 1,011,025 public students, 136,697 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 14, 2020 133.8 per 100,000 (15th most)
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Courtesy of Gilbert High School
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. 14, 2020 63.2 per 100,000 (17th fewest)
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. 14, 2020 49.5 per 100,000 (10th fewest)
[in-text-ad]
Source: Dwight Burdette / Wikimedia Commons
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. 14, 2020 50.3 per 100,000 (11th fewest)
Source: editor / Flickr
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. 14, 2020 471.1 per 100,000 (3rd most)
19. Maine
> Closure status: Recommended closed for the academic year
> Closure start date: 3/16/2020
> K-12 population 159,980 public students, 20,902 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 14, 2020 57.5 per 100,000 (16th fewest)
[in-text-ad-2]
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. 14, 2020 166.0 per 100,000 (11th most)
Source: Courtesy of Public Schools of Brookline via Facebook
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. 14, 2020 408.0 per 100,000 (4th most)
[in-text-ad]
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. 14, 2020 270.1 per 100,000 (7th most)
24/7 Wall St.
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. 14, 2020 32.2 per 100,000 (the fewest)
Source: C5Media / Getty Images
24. Mississippi
> Closure status: Ordered closed for the academic year
> Closure start date: 3/20/2020
> K-12 population 473,242 public students, 59,780 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 14, 2020 112.5 per 100,000 (18th most)
[in-text-ad-2]
25. Missouri
> Closure status: Ordered closed for the academic year
> Closure start date: 3/23/2020
> K-12 population 864,070 public students, 129,954 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 14, 2020 78.1 per 100,000 (25th fewest)
26. Montana
> Closure status: Ordered closed through 4/24/2020
> Closure start date: 3/16/2020
> K-12 population 148,981 public students, 15,274 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 14, 2020 38.0 per 100,000 (3rd fewest)
[in-text-ad]
Source: Courtesy of Rock County Public Schools / Facebook
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. 14, 2020 46.7 per 100,000 (7th fewest)
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. 14, 2020 105.8 per 100,000 (19th most)
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. 14, 2020 80.4 per 100,000 (25th most)
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Courtesy of Mountain Lakes School District via Facebook
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. 14, 2020 797.3 per 100,000 (2nd most)
Source: Mathieu LE MAUFF / Getty Images
31. New Mexico
> Closure status: Ordered closed for the academic year
> Closure start date: 3/16/2020
> K-12 population 335,637 public students, 24,846 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 14, 2020 67.1 per 100,000 (22nd fewest)
[in-text-ad]
Source: Courtesy of Bronx High School Of Science via Facebook
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. 14, 2020 1038.4 per 100,000 (the most)
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. 14, 2020 49.4 per 100,000 (9th fewest)
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. 14, 2020 48.0 per 100,000 (8th fewest)
[in-text-ad-2]
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. 14, 2020 66.6 per 100,000 (21st fewest)
Source: Majestic_Aerials / Getty Images
36. Oklahoma
> Closure status: Ordered closed for the academic year
> Closure start date: 3/17/2020
> K-12 population 636,212 public students, 65,158 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 14, 2020 57.4 per 100,000 (15th fewest)
[in-text-ad]
37. Oregon
> Closure status: Ordered closed for the academic year
> Closure start date: 3/16/2020
> K-12 population 578,233 public students, 63,882 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 14, 2020 39.0 per 100,000 (6th fewest)
24/7 Wall St.
Source: CynthiaAnnF / Getty Images
38. Pennsylvania
> Closure status: Ordered closed for the academic year
> Closure start date: 3/16/2020
> K-12 population 1,668,287 public students, 267,154 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 14, 2020 206.8 per 100,000 (8th most)
Source: Courtesy of Dillon School District Four
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. 14, 2020 333.8 per 100,000 (6th most)
[in-text-ad-2]
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. 14, 2020 69.9 per 100,000 (23rd fewest)
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. 14, 2020 132.4 per 100,000 (16th most)
[in-text-ad]
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. 14, 2020 86.0 per 100,000 (21st most)
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. 14, 2020 54.0 per 100,000 (13th fewest)
Source: krblokhin / Getty Images
44. Utah
> Closure status: Ordered closed for the academic year
> Closure start date: 3/16/2020
> K-12 population 640,073 public students, 41,497 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 14, 2020 83.0 per 100,000 (24th most)
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Redjar / Wikimedia Commons
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. 14, 2020 121.2 per 100,000 (17th most)
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. 14, 2020 76.3 per 100,000 (24th fewest)
[in-text-ad]
Source: Courtesy of Union Gap School
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. 14, 2020 148.0 per 100,000 (12th most)
Source: Courtesy of Morgantown High School
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. 14, 2020 38.9 per 100,000 (5th fewest)
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. 14, 2020 64.0 per 100,000 (18th fewest)
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Courtesy of Jackson Hole High School (Photo by Greg Hursley)
50. Wyoming
> Closure status: Ordered closed through 4/30/2020
> Closure start date: 3/16/2020
> K-12 population 91,146 public students, 6,694 private students
> COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 14, 2020 66.3 per 100,000 (20th fewest)
Sponsored: Attention Savvy Investors: Speak to 3 Financial Experts – FREE
Ever wanted an extra set of eyes on an investment you’re considering? Now you can speak with up to 3 financial experts in your area for FREE. By simply
clicking here you can begin to match with financial professionals who can help guide you through the financial decisions you’re making. And the best part? The first conversation with them is free.
Click here to match with up to 3 financial pros who would be excited to help you make financial decisions.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.
Editors' Picks
