I'm scrolling through my social media, and I'm seeing so many kids going back to school already, but Washington State doesn't start until much later compared to most states. Why Washington Schools Start So LateOf course, in other states, if they go earlier, they also get earlier than students in Washington State. It might surprise you to discover that 81% of students are back in school nationwide before Washington State. READ MORE: Items That Aren't Allowed In The Benton Franklin County FairEach school year is 180 days, and it's up to local state and local school boards to decide the school year. For now, it looks like Washington State is sticking with tradition and starting later than most states in the nation.