4 or 6 Terms in Homeschool, Which Is Best?

All homeschools are unique, and all homeschool families follow their own unique schedules. Often times once a family finds their homeschool rhythm, they stray further away from that "traditional school" structure. This is true with how we structure our school weeks into "terms". For the longest time schools had six 6-week terms, and our report cards had 6 grades for each subject through the school year, ending with our final average. (I still have some of my report cards from the 80's that show exactly this). Right around the 2000's (give or take) some schools started switching over to a 4 term model of 9 weeks each, and that's progressed through to today.

Why Schools Switched to 9-Week Terms

Over time, many public and private schools moved from 6-week to 9-week grading periods to align with quarterly academic calendars and simplify administrative processes. The 9-week term structure fits neatly into a 36-week school year, dividing it into four quarters—making it easier to schedule report cards, benchmark assessments, and parent-teacher conferences on a predictable schedule. As education systems became more centralized and data-driven, the quarterly model provided a more uniform structure for curriculum planning and performance tracking across schools and districts. But is this a good frame for homeschoolers too?

Why Homeschoolers Still Use 6-Week Terms

For homeschoolers who aren’t bound by district standards or traditional reporting systems, the classic 6-week term offers a more natural and flexible pace. It allows families to focus deeply on learning in short, manageable bursts, followed by an optional built-in rest week for review, enrichment, or simply catching their breath.

Unlike the 9-week model, which was designed to streamline grading and parent-teacher conferences across districts, the 6-week cycle prioritizes sustainable learning at home. It encourages consistent progress without burnout and gives families the freedom to adapt their schedule without being tied to a school calendar built for institutional efficiency rather than individual learners.

The shorter more frequent terms make it easier to pause for real life breaks (like sickness, travel or changes in routine, and makes it easier for year-round schoolers to schedule in more frequent breaks during the year.

Why You Might Follow The 9-Week Term Instead

If you live in a state with strict standards that require you to submit work or reports that reflect the school system's 9-week 4-term model, then you may need to plan around 9 week terms instead of 6. If you are using a traditional format curriculum that paces around the quarter/semester format you'll probably want to plan the same way. If you are doing public school at home, you'll likely need to plan this way. If you are in a co-op or POD that has adopted this same structure, you'll need to plan this way.

Which is Best Option for Homeschooling

The beauty of homeschooling is that you can do exactly what is best for you. And what's best for you may not work for someone else. What kind of homeschooler are you? What kind of curriculum do you use? Are you more comfortable following the pacing of the public school system, or do you want more freedom to move with your own pace? Do you school year round? Do you prefer more frequent breaks? Do you live in a state that limits your choices? The best option is the one that supports your goals, your lifestyle and your needs.

But if you are still unsure which is "better" let me offer this comparison. The reason schools developed and used a 6-week term for so many generations vs the reason they switched to 9 week terms today, is reflective of the patterns we've seen develop in the school system in modern days.

Originally, six-week terms were adopted because they provided a healthy academic pace: frequent feedback, timely intervention, and shorter, more focused learning blocks. This made it easier for teachers to spot when a student was falling behind and for students to stay motivated and on track without long stretches between check-ins. Simply put, the research we put into this decision was based around what was best for the kids.

The shift to nine-week quarters happened largely for institutional convenience—fewer report cards, fewer parent-teacher conferences, and smoother alignment with district-wide calendars, assessments, and administrative cycles. It streamlined operations but sacrificed some of the flexibility and responsiveness that shorter terms offered. Simply put, this decision was based on what was best for the institution, rather than what is best for our kids.

So, in my opinion, the 6-week term (if you organize by term to begin with) is the better option in a homeschool setting as it's a more manageable pace that works well for children and parents, reducing burnout and offering more frequent breaks (if you use the 6 weeks on 1 week off system). But, if a family feels they are better suited for the 9-week term, as homeschoolers they are free to do so. And as stated earlier, there are some situations where certain homeschool families don't have a choice and have to plan around a 9-week term. Which is why my Mindful Homeschool Life Planner includes report cards and term goals pages built around the classic 6-week term while also offering optional 9-week term version of those pages in the digital download bonus. Those pages are easy to print at home and hand over for reporting in states that require that format.

Admittedly, most homeschoolers never bother with report cards. Some of us do it because we want a keepsake, some of us have to keep those records for the state, but many of us never bother because we don't typically grade everything and instead work towards mastery, especially in those younger years. And this is why I love homeschool. So many families all across the country are customizing their children's education based on their own unique needs and goals, rather than using a one-size-fits-all option. Prioritizing true educational enrichment over academic homogenization.

If you read though this whole post and would like to know more about planning term goals, check out this post where I show you several different ways homeschoolers outline their year according to different goals and homeschool styles.