Four-day school weeks have become a trend in Louisiana school districts since the pandemic. According to The Advocate, 15 parishes have made the switch, and the change is becoming more common in rural areas. Some of Natchitoches’ neighboring parishes, including Grant, Winn and Vernon, used a four-day weekly calendar this year. What are the possible benefits of this schedule for K-12 and higher education? Could we ever see this change in Natchitoches?
At first glance, the four-day school week seems like it could inhibit learning. How could less time in the classroom lead to any improvement? However, the alternative schedule does not remove instructional time, but rearranges it. According to KNOE 8 News, districts with this schedule still meet Louisiana’s 63,000 minutes of required yearly schooling. Individual school days are longer on the four-day schedule, and the districts that use it report several benefits.
The most significant benefit is improved teacher morale. When some school districts want improved test scores, they try to make changes to the student experience. Districts on the four-day schedule are trying to improve the lives of the educators first.
Joey Bartz, personnel director of the Vernon Parish School Board, said that teacher morale is essential to success. This district, which adopted the four-day school week schedule at the start of the 2025-2026 year, ranks among the top 10 performing parishes in the state, according to the Louisiana Department of Education. Although the district schedule is unorthodox, the change was essential to keep the district performing so highly.
“There was a greater risk in not doing something for our teachers,” Bartz said. “We haven’t seen pay raises on the state level, so we had to do something for morale … We see our teachers leaving so fast because they are trying to run a marathon. Fewer days with students helps break it up into more like little sprints.”
A shorter week is undoubtedly appealing. It may entice more people to become educators in these districts.
“I would love a four-day school week,” Morgan Wyatt, a senior elementary education major, said. “I think having that extra day could really help teachers with planning and just having time to breathe, which might help with burnout.”
What is the impact of this schedule on students? Reports are mixed. National Education Association Today reports that there is no significant evidence for improvement in student performance with this schedule. However, LaSalle parish superintendent Jon Garrett told KNOE that the schedule led to improved Louisiana Educational Assessment Program (LEAP) scores.
Micah Coleman, principal of Natchitoches Central High School, questions if switching to the alternative schedule would make a positive difference: “Would a four-day week give our students a competitive advantage post-graduation?”
Bartz, on the other hand, is optimistic about the change, predicting that it will come to more districts and perhaps even higher education.
“I don’t think the momentum is going to stop anytime soon,” Bartz said. “I hate to say it, but keeping kids in school longer is not the answer … but we’ll have to see how we do with standardized testing in the spring.”
Northwestern State University of Louisiana already differs from other institutions in how we schedule our weeks. Classes do not occur after 12 p.m. on Fridays, giving students a chance to start their weekends earlier. Could we ever see a full switch to a four-day week?
If we did, we would not be the first higher education institution to do so. D’Youville University in Buffalo, New York, has used this schedule since 2022. “It was rooted in our belief that caring for our employees directly benefits our students and the community … higher education must lead with empathy and innovation,” D’Youville University president Lorrie Clemo explained.
Making such a bold change is a risk for any school, but sometimes risks lead to positive outcomes. There is no reason why a change like this could not be explored by more institutions. Prioritizing the well-being of educators is a stance that should not be controversial. We may see more schools welcome this change in the future.
