Another West Texas School District Is Moving To A 4-Day Week, Will Lubbock Schools Follow?

Texas is getting closer to seeing 100 school districts across the state ditch the traditional 5-day school week and adopt a 4-day week. And there is a chance, the state will move past 100 districts adopting that plan soon.

Abernathy ISD is just the latest school districting voting to move to a 4-day school week starting in the 2024-2025 school year. The district located 18 miles north of Lubbock will take Friday as their day off. At least 83 other school districts across Texas have made similar moves in order to deal with teacher shortages and amid struggles with attendance rates and funding.

According to KAMC, the Abernathy ISD Superintendent believes the switch to a 4-day school week will help with teacher burnout and could attract more teachers to the district. KAMC also reported that there are some things that still need to be finalized before the switch in January of 2025.

There are still a few things to figure out since the switch to a four-day week is so new, such as parents who need childcare for grades seven and above and how Cortez will fit one more unit into his fall semester curriculum. However, there’s some time for families to make decisions since the four-day weeks won’t begin until January 2025.

In 2023, Slaton ISD moved to a 4-day school week and fall attendance improve after the change.

So what about Lubbock ISD and other surrounding districts? Will they be moving to a 4-day school week anytime soon?

It doesn't appear so. Most of the districts that have made such a move have been smaller districts. But if the trend holds and districts see that a 4-day week can be a positive change, it's something that larger districts may look at in the future.