Good Friday 2025: Are Schools and Colleges Closed in the US? | DETAILS

Good Friday, occurring on April 18 this year, is being commemorated by numerous Christians all over the United States. But note that it is not celebrated as a federal holiday. Thus, public schools and colleges are not mandated by law to close, although they tend to be closed based on state laws, school districts, or institutional policy.

States Where Schools Are Closed

A total of twelve American states formally celebrate Good Friday as a public holiday. They are Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, North Dakota, New Jersey, Tennessee, and Texas. Public schools in these states usually remain closed on this day.

How Other States Handle It

In non-proclaimed states of Good Friday as a public holiday, school and college closures are decided at the district or school level. For example:

• New York City: Public schools will be closed on Good Friday, as per the official academic calendar.
• Philadelphia: The School District of Philadelphia also declared a day off for students and teachers.
• North Carolina: Public schools will not be in session on April 18 in counties such as New Hanover and Brunswick.

But in most other areas, public schools will still be open unless the date falls on a planned spring break. Religious schools, including Catholic schools, are more likely to close for the day.

College and University Plans

When it comes to colleges and universities, practices differ greatly throughout the nation. Some have already made announcements of closures, including:

San Antonio College and all Alamo Colleges District campuses will close on Good Friday.

Coffeyville Community College in Kansas has confirmed that its campus will be closed for the day.

Even then, there will be colleges and universities that might remain open but tend to accommodate students and staff who want to observe the religious festival.

If you are unsure about your institution, here’s what you can do:

In case you’re not sure whether your college or school will continue to be operational, here is what you do:

• Look through the academic calendar: The vast majority of institutes release their dates beforehand, so check the website.
• Be sensitive to local tradition: Even in the same state, there can be differences between districts or schools.
• Plan ahead: If your school is open but you are observing Good Friday, it is a good idea to call the administration to ask for time off or accommodations.

What Else Is Open?

Other than the religious aspect of Good Friday, many businesses and governmental services will be run as normal. These include post offices, large banks, and delivery services like FedEx and UPS, all of which will be open and delivering packages on April 18.