Definition
The phrase academic term refers to a portion of an academic calendar during which classes are in session. While the most common academic term is a semester, a school's academic calendar may include trimesters, quadmesters as well as quinmesters.
Explanation
In the United States, the academic year typically begins in late August or early September and ends in mid-May (colleges and universities) or mid to late June (elementary, middle and high schools). Academic terms can vary by educational institution, and some schools include summer session as part of their term system.
The most common academic term is a semester, dividing the academic calendar into two portions, which can last anywhere from fourteen to twenty weeks. Trimesters are also fairly common, with each portion lasting nine to thirteen weeks. Less common are quadmesters and quinmesters, which typically include the summer months and divide a calendar year into four and five sessions respectively.