How many months is one semester typically in high school or college?

I've been trying to plan out my next year of school and I'm a bit confused about how long a semester actually lasts. I know it varies, but what’s the standard length of a semester in both high school and college in terms of months? It would be really helpful for scheduling my extracurricular activities and part-time work if I knew how much time I have per semester!

In most U.S. high schools and colleges, a semester tends to be around 15 weeks or about 3.5 to 4 months long. For example, a typical fall semester starts in late August or early September and ends in mid-December. Spring semester usually begins in January and concludes in May.

However, the actual start and end dates can vary based on the school's academic calendar, school district for high schools, or if the college follows a quarter or trimester system instead. Additionally, summer sessions at colleges tend to be shorter - often around 6 to 8 weeks - and run between May and August.

While this provides a general framework, I encourage you to consider the specific time committments for your intended classes, as well as your own personal time management skills when planning out your schedule. Cramming in too many time-intensive commitments can lead to unnecessary stress and hinder your academic performance. On the other hand, if managed effectively, having the right balance of academic engagements and extracurricular activities can foster better time management and multi-tasking skills.