How to Create a Homeschool Schedule in Louisiana

by | May 1, 2026 | Getting Started, Homeschooling in Louisiana

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A homeschool schedule is the backbone of your routine. Without it, days drift. With it, learning happens deliberately. This guide shows you how to build a schedule that works for your family’s rhythm, not against it.

Key Takeaways:

  • You need 180 instructional days per year (most families reach this by May)
  • 900 hours/year for grades 1-8; 990 hours for grades 9-12
  • Five hours/day × 180 days = your requirement
  • Your schedule should account for your family’s unique constraints and your child’s learning rhythm
  • Most schedules take 2-4 weeks to settle; expect adjustments

Louisiana’s Time Requirements

Before designing your schedule, know what you’re building toward:

Days per year: 180 instructional days (not including weekends, holidays, vacation)

Hours per year:

  • Grades 1-8: 900 hours (5 hours/day)
  • Grades 9-12: 990 hours (5.5 hours/day)

Weekly formula:

  • 5 instructional days/week × 36 weeks = 180 days
  • Extra buffer: Plan 190-200 days to account for illness, weather, life events

What counts: Direct instruction, assignments, assessments in required subjects. Lunch, passing time, breaks do NOT count.

Your schedule must fit these parameters. How you distribute the hours is entirely up to you.

Core Scheduling Questions

Answer these before building your schedule:

  1. How many days/week are you doing school? (5 days standard; some do 4 or 6)
  2. What time of day? (Morning most common; some do afternoon)
  3. How long per day? (2-5 hours depending on grade level)
  4. Will you school year-round or traditional? (Traditional Sept-May most common)
  5. Who’s teaching? (You alone? You + tutors? Hybrid with co-op?)
  6. Where’s the learning space? (Kitchen table, dedicated room, multiple spaces?)

Your answers create the framework. Everything else fills in from there.

Sample Elementary Schedule (K-5)

Traditional 5-Day-Per-Week Model

Time breakdown:

  • 8:30-9:00 (30 min): Morning meeting (calendar, read-aloud, poetry)
  • 9:00-10:00 (60 min): Math (instruction + practice)
  • 10:00-10:20 (20 min): Break
  • 10:20-11:20 (60 min): ELA (reading, writing, phonics, grammar)
  • 11:20-12:20 (60 min): Lunch + outdoor time
  • 12:20-1:20 (60 min): Science or Social Studies (alternating days)
  • 1:20-2:00 (40 min): Electives (art, music, PE, nature study)

Total per day: 4.5 hours (sits comfortably within 5-hour/day requirement)

Weekly total: 22.5 hours Annual total: 810 hours (exceeds 900-hour minimum with buffer days)

4-Day-Per-Week Model (More Intensive)

Some families compress into four longer days:

  • 8:00-9:00: Math
  • 9:00-10:00: ELA
  • 10:00-10:20: Break
  • 10:20-11:20: Science
  • 11:20-12:20: Lunch
  • 12:20-1:20: Social Studies
  • 1:20-2:00: Electives

Total per day: 6 hours Weekly total: 24 hours (four days) Annual (36 weeks): 864 hours (buffer; reaches 900+ with extra weeks)

This is more intense but gives a 3-day weekend. Some families love it; others find it too demanding for young children.

Sample Middle School Schedule (6-8)

Five-Day Model with Rotation

Monday-Wednesday-Friday (Core Days):

  • 8:00-8:30: Morning meeting
  • 8:30-9:30: Math
  • 9:30-10:30: ELA
  • 10:30-10:45: Break
  • 10:45-11:45: Science
  • 11:45-1:00: Lunch + outdoor
  • 1:00-2:00: Social Studies

Tuesday-Thursday (Enrichment Days):

  • 8:00-9:00: Math review/extension
  • 9:00-10:00: Electives (art, music, PE, language)
  • 10:00-10:15: Break
  • 10:15-11:45: Co-op classes or field trips

Rationale: Intense core subjects M-W-F; lighter, enrichment-focused T-Th. Kids get variety; parents get breathing room.

Sample High School Schedule (9-12)

High school is different. You need clear semester courses and a transcript-ready structure.

Semester-Based Model (Most Common)

First semester (18 weeks):

  • English (major)
  • Math (major)
  • Science (major)
  • Social Studies (major)
  • Foreign Language or Elective

Second semester (18 weeks):

  • Same or different courses depending on sequence

Daily schedule (example):

  • 8:00-9:00: English (50 min instruction + 10 min independent work)
  • 9:00-10:00: Math
  • 10:00-10:15: Break
  • 10:15-11:15: Science (lab days alternate with lecture days)
  • 11:15-12:15: Lunch/outdoor
  • 12:15-1:15: Social Studies
  • 1:15-2:15: Foreign Language or elective

Total per day: 6 hours (meets 990-hour/year requirement for high school)

Notes:

  • High schoolers often do more independent work (reading, writing)
  • Dual enrollment at local college can substitute for some courses
  • Online courses (AP, college-level) provide structured instruction

Flexible/Unschooling Schedule

Not everyone wants a formal schedule. Some work with learning opportunities as they arise.

Framework:

  • Core academic time: 3-4 hours/day in formal subjects
  • Enrichment/field trips/projects: 1-2 hours/day
  • Reading/independent learning: throughout day

How to track 180 days: Mark calendar when you’ve done intentional instruction. Keep portfolio of learning. Less structured but requires good record-keeping.

Hybrid Schedule (Homeschool + Co-op + Tutoring)

Many families mix home instruction with co-op classes.

Example (grades 4-8):

  • Monday-Wednesday: Home (Math, ELA, Science, Social Studies) — 4 hours/day
  • Thursday: Co-op (Science lab, history discussion, electives) — 3 hours
  • Friday: Independent projects, catch-up, enrichment — 2 hours

Advantage: Professional instruction in some subjects; home instruction in others; social connection; parent breaks

Drawback: Scheduling complexity; higher cost (~$150-400/year)

Year-Round Schedule

Some families prefer spreading school throughout the year rather than intensive 9-month block.

Model:

  • School 3 weeks; off 1 week (repeating)
  • 4-week blocks with breaks between
  • Light summer school (1-2 hours/day)

Advantage: Never a long break; more gradual pacing; easier to maintain momentum

Drawback: Less flexibility for family travel; no long summer break

Most Louisiana families use traditional Sept-May; year-round is less common but viable.

Building Your Schedule

Step 1: Determine Your Time Frame

  • Start/end dates
  • Break weeks (holidays, vacation)
  • Total instructional weeks (typically 36)

Step 2: Decide Daily Structure

  • What time start/end?
  • How many hours per day?
  • Morning or afternoon focus?
  • One-subject-at-a-time or mixed?

Step 3: Map Core Subjects

Block time for your four required subjects:

  • Elementary: ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies
  • High School: Add PE, Health, Fine Arts, Foreign Language

Step 4: Add Flexibility

  • Build in 15-20% extra days for sickness, weather, life events
  • Plan enrichment (art, music, PE, field trips)
  • Leave space for your child’s interests

Step 5: Test Drive (Week 1-2)

Try your schedule for two weeks. Adjust:

  • Is the pace realistic?
  • Is timing working?
  • Do subjects feel balanced?
  • Is it sustainable?

Make changes now; don’t wait until October.

Sample Year-at-a-Glance

September: Start year; establish routine October: Annual renewal due; confirm on track November: Thanksgiving break; mid-year check December: Christmas break; possible mid-year assessment January: Resume after holidays February: Monitor progress March: Spring break; spring refresh April: Push to finish by May May: Complete 180 days; celebrate; prepare year 2

Tools for Scheduling

Digital:

  • Google Calendar (color-code subjects)
  • Excel/Sheets (spreadsheet planner)
  • Homeschool-specific apps (Trello, Asana)

Physical:

  • Wall calendar (mark instructional days)
  • Printed planner (daily/weekly view)
  • Binder with printed schedule

Simple approach: Google Calendar with color-coded subjects. Check it off as you go. Doubles as attendance tracking.

Important Reminders

  • Your schedule is flexible. You can adjust week to week.
  • Don’t compare to public school. Your 5 hours at home ≠ 6.5 hours at school (no hallway passing, lunch logistics, transitions).
  • Longer isn’t better. Efficient homeschool beats lengthy schedule.
  • Build in margins. If you plan for 180 days and hit 200, that’s perfect. Unexpected life happens.
  • Your child’s learning style matters. Early bird? Night owl? Morning sessions might be ideal. Need movement breaks? Build them in.

Seasonal Adjustments

Most families adjust seasonally:

  • Fall: More structure, indoor time
  • Winter: Lighter schedule, more breaks
  • Spring: Outdoor learning, field trips increase
  • Summer: Light/flexible; travel friendly

This isn’t failure; it’s realism. Adjust.

Summary

Build a schedule that fits Louisiana’s requirements (180 days, 900+ hours), matches your family’s rhythm, and is sustainable. Start flexible, adjust after two weeks, and revisit seasonally.

Your schedule is the container. Your curriculum is what goes in. Get the schedule right and everything else flows.

For complete startup guidance, see . For curriculum selection, see . For planning your full year, see .