The short answer
The research supports limiting homework more than banning it. The evidence differs sharply by age:
- Middle and high school: a 2006 synthesis of more than 60 studies (Cooper, Robinson & Patall) found a generally positive link between homework and achievement, stronger in grades 7–12 than K–6. But beyond about two hours a night in upper high school, more homework was not linked to higher achievement.
- Elementary school: the link is weak, and historian Steven Schlossman notes research shows neither clear gains nor clear harm from early-grade homework.
- Costs: at 10 high-performing California high schools, students averaged 3.1 hours a night and 56% named homework a primary stressor (Galloway, Conner & Pope 2013).
- Public opinion: in national polls reviewed by Brookings, parents who want more homework outnumber those who want less.
“Ban homework” is a popular essay prompt and a recurring school board fight. The honest answer depends on the student’s age and how much homework we’re talking about. The research doesn’t support either extreme. It points to a middle path: light or no homework in the early grades, a moderate, capped load for teenagers.
What the research says, in one table
The strongest evidence is a 2006 meta-analysis by Harris Cooper and colleagues; the rest qualifies it. Here is what the major sources found, and what they cannot tell us.
| Study | What it found | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| Cooper, Robinson & Patall (2006), 60+ studies, 1987–2003 | Generally consistent positive link with achievement; stronger in grades 7–12 than K–6; no strong difference between grades and test scores, or reading and math | All studies had design flaws; little research on race, income or ability |
| Cooper, via Duke Today (2006, 2009) | No added benefit beyond ~2 hours a night in upper high school; middle school benefit fades after ~90 minutes | Interview summaries, not new data |
| Galloway, Conner & Pope (2013), 4,317 students | 3.1 hours a night on average; 56% named homework a primary stressor | Affluent, high-performing schools only; correlational survey |
| OECD, PISA in Focus 46 (2014) | Little extra benefit after ~4 hours a week; advantaged students do more homework | International averages, 15-year-olds only |
| OECD, PISA 2022 | Systems with more students doing up to 2 hours a day score higher in math; 3+ hours, lower | System-level pattern, not individual effect |
The case for homework
Supporters have real evidence on their side, mainly for older students.
- Achievement. Cooper’s synthesis found “generally consistent evidence for a positive influence of homework on achievement,” and the link was stronger in grades 7–12. Cooper has said the optimum for high schoolers is between 90 minutes and 2½ hours a night.
- International data. Within school systems, PISA 2012 found that schools assigning more homework scored higher in math after accounting for students’ backgrounds. In Hong Kong, Japan, Macao and Singapore, each extra weekly hour was linked to at least 17 more points.
- Habits. Duke researchers suggest that elementary homework may mainly build study skills. Supporters cited by EBSCO’s overview add organization, self-discipline and accountability.
- Parents’ window into school. Historians Schlossman and Gill once called homework “the primary, often the sole communication link” between school and home.
- Equity, the other way. Some supporters argue bans may hurt students without support at home, and parents worry that less homework means more screen time.
The case against homework (or for strict limits)
Critics also have evidence, and most of it is about younger children and heavy loads.
- Weak results in elementary school. The homework–achievement correlation was weaker in K–6. Schlossman notes research doesn’t clearly show notable gains from early-elementary homework. Possible reasons, per Duke: younger students tune out distractions less well and have less effective study habits.
- Diminishing returns. Beyond about two hours a night in upper high school, more homework was not linked to higher achievement. Cooper’s blunt summary: “Kids burn out.”
- Stress and health. In news coverage of the study, students reported sleep deprivation, headaches and exhaustion; in the survey itself, fewer than 1% said homework was not a stressor. Co-author Pope said the findings challenge the assumption that homework is inherently good.
- Equity. Advantaged 15-year-olds do 1.6 more hours a week than disadvantaged ones on average across the OECD, and 17% of US teens sometimes can’t finish homework for lack of a computer or internet.
- Critics’ books. Alfie Kohn’s The Homework Myth (2006) argues the usual defenses of homework don’t hold up; Kralovec and Buell’s The End of Homework (2000) argues it disrupts families.
Pros and cons at a glance
| Argument | Side | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raises achievement in grades 7–12 | Keep | Stronger correlation in 7–12 than K–6 | Cooper et al. 2006 |
| Little payoff in grades K–6 | Ban/limit | Weak K–6 correlation; no clear gains | Cooper et al. 2006; CMU 2016 |
| Builds study habits | Keep | Main aim of elementary homework | Duke Today 2006 |
| Diminishing returns | Limit | No gain beyond ~2 h (high school), ~90 min (middle school) | Duke Today 2006, 2009 |
| Causes stress | Ban/limit | 56% name homework a primary stressor | Galloway, Conner & Pope 2013 |
| Higher scores where more is assigned | Keep | 17+ points per extra weekly hour in four systems | OECD 2014 |
| Widens gaps | Ban/limit | 5.7 vs 4.1 hours a week by advantage | OECD 2014 |
| Digital divide | Ban/limit | 17% of teens sometimes can’t finish | Pew 2018 |
| Parents want it | Keep | 60% right, 25% more, 15% less | MetLife 2007 via Brookings |
Build your own argument
Writing a persuasive essay or preparing for a debate? Pick a position, check the evidence cards you want to use, and the tool assembles a thesis, three supporting points, a counterargument and a source list. Every card is a fact from a source cited on this page. Use the outline as a starting point and write the essay in your own words.
Nothing you pick is saved or sent anywhere; it disappears when you leave the page.
Worked example. Choose “limited, not banned,” set the grade focus to middle and high school, then check, in order, the Cooper synthesis card, the “beyond two hours” card and the stress card. The thesis reads: Homework in middle and high school should be limited rather than banned, because a synthesis of research found generally consistent evidence that homework has a positive influence on achievement and more than about two hours a night is not linked to higher achievement. That is a defensible claim with two sources behind it.
What parents and the public say
Bans get headlines, but polls show little appetite for less homework. Brookings’ 2014 review of national surveys found:
| Poll | About right | Too little / want more | Too much / want less |
|---|---|---|---|
| MetLife (2007) | 60% | 25% | 15% |
| Public Agenda (2006) | 68% | 20% | 11% |
| AP-AOL (2006) | 57% | 23% | 19% |
| Chicago Tribune (2010) | about two-thirds | 21% | 12% |
In every national poll Brookings reviewed, parents wanting more homework outnumbered those wanting less. Brookings also found the typical load is about an hour a night, and heavy loads of two or more hours affect about 15% of high school juniors and seniors. Students’ own views are shifting with AI: in Pew’s 2024 survey, 54% of teens said using ChatGPT to research new topics is acceptable, but only 18% said the same for writing essays.
Schools that dropped or limited homework
Actual policies are usually limits, not total bans:
- 1901, California: a statewide ban for children under 15 (see our history of homework).
- 2011, Galloway, New Jersey: homework limits that made the front page of The New York Times.
- 2016: a Texas second-grade teacher’s no-homework letter to parents, and Kelly Elementary in Holyoke, Massachusetts, which banned homework K–8 and lengthened the school day to 8 a.m.–4 p.m.
- Ridgefield, Connecticut: nightly time limits and no weekend or vacation homework.
- 2018, Lafayette Parish, Louisiana: stopped grading homework.
- Marion County, Florida: told teachers to stop “meaningless homework” and emphasized nightly reading.
- 2024, Poland: banned homework for students under nine and made it optional for ages 9–14.
Our district homework policy research shows what 32 of the largest US districts publish today.
A sensible middle ground
If you’re a parent or teacher rather than a debater, the evidence suggests a few practical rules:
- Use the 10-minute rule as a ceiling, not a target. Ten minutes per grade per night gives 30 minutes in 3rd grade and two hours in 12th. Check your child’s evenings with the homework time calculator.
- Keep elementary homework light. Reading and short practice fit what the research shows.
- Watch for the two-hour line in high school. Past it, the research shows no added benefit and more stress.
- Plan the week. A homework planner spreads big assignments out so no single night overflows.
- Know the numbers. Our homework statistics page shows how much US students actually do.
Sources
- Cooper, Robinson & Patall (2006), Review of Educational Research 76(1), 1–62: journals.sagepub.com
- Duke Today, March 7, 2006: today.duke.edu ; Aug. 11, 2009: today.duke.edu
- Galloway, Conner & Pope (2013), Journal of Experimental Education 81(4): doi.org ; Stanford GSE news, March 10, 2014: ed.stanford.edu
- OECD, PISA in Focus No. 46 (Dec. 2014): doi.org ; PISA 2022 learning time: oecd.org
- Tom Loveless, “Homework in America,” Brookings, March 18, 2014: brookings.edu
- Carnegie Mellon University (Schlossman), 2016: cmu.edu
- Pew Research Center, Oct. 26, 2018: pewresearch.org ; Jan. 15, 2025: pewresearch.org
- EBSCO Research Starters, “Homework Ban Policies: Overview”: ebsco.com
- Alfie Kohn, The Homework Myth: alfiekohn.org
Checked October 14, 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us via the about page.