Back-to-school planner

First Day of School 2026 by State

Page content updated: 2026-10-25. Source-check dates are listed with each calendar.

Compare school start dates for the 2026-2027 academic year and see why dates can differ widely by state and district.

Typical start window

Late July – Early September 2026

Southern states often start earlier, while many northeastern districts begin after Labor Day. Local district calendars are the final source.

Popular first-day calendars

Arizona

First day: Aug 6, 2026

Mesa Public Schools only; not statewide

Official calendar · Checked on 2026-10-25

California

First day: Aug 12, 2026

Florida

First day: Aug 10, 2026

Broward County Public Schools only; not statewide

Official calendar · Checked on 2026-09-30

Georgia

First day: Aug 3, 2026

Atlanta Public Schools only; not statewide

Official calendar · Checked on 2026-09-30

Illinois

First day: Aug 24, 2026

Chicago Public Schools only; not statewide

Official calendar · Checked on 2026-09-30

New York

First day: Sep 10, 2026

New York City Public Schools only; not statewide

Official calendar · Checked on 2026-09-30

North Carolina

First day: Aug 24, 2026

Wake County Public School System traditional calendar only; not statewide

Official calendar · Checked on 2026-09-30

Ohio

First day: Aug 19, 2026

Cincinnati Public Schools only; not statewide

Official calendar · Checked on 2026-10-01

50-state back-to-school table

First day of school 2026 by state

Dates are planning references for the 2026-2027 academic year and may vary by district.

State-by-state comparison of first day of school 2026, spring break, last day, and official sources.
State	First day	Spring break	Last day	Source
Arizona AZMesa Public Schools only; not statewide	AugAug 6, 2026	MarMar 8, 2027 – Mar 12, 2027	MayMay 27, 2027	Source Checked on 2026-10-25
California CADistricts vary	AugAug 12, 2026	MarMar 22, 2027 – Mar 26, 2027	JunJun 4, 2027	Source
Florida FLBroward County Public Schools only; not statewide	AugAug 10, 2026	MarMar 22, 2027 – Mar 26, 2027	MayMay 28, 2027	Source Checked on 2026-09-30
Georgia GAAtlanta Public Schools only; not statewide	AugAug 3, 2026	AprApr 5, 2027 – Apr 9, 2027	MayMay 27, 2027	Source Checked on 2026-09-30
Illinois ILChicago Public Schools only; not statewide	AugAug 24, 2026	MarMar 22, 2027 – Mar 26, 2027	JunJun 11, 2027	Source Checked on 2026-09-30
New York NYNew York City Public Schools only; not statewide	SepSep 10, 2026	AprApr 22, 2027 – Apr 30, 2027	JunJun 28, 2027	Source Checked on 2026-09-30
North Carolina NCWake County Public School System traditional calendar only; not statewide	AugAug 24, 2026	Mar-AprMar 29, 2027 – Apr 2, 2027	JunJun 9, 2027	Source Checked on 2026-09-30
Ohio OHCincinnati Public Schools only; not statewide	AugAug 19, 2026	MarMar 22, 2027 – Mar 26, 2027	MayMay 25, 2027	Source Checked on 2026-10-01
Pennsylvania PASchool District of Philadelphia only; not statewide	AugAug 24, 2026	MarMar 22, 2027 – Mar 25, 2027	JunJun 9, 2027	Source Checked on 2026-09-30
Texas TXDistricts vary	AugAug 12, 2026	MarMar 15, 2027 – Mar 19, 2027	MayMay 27, 2027	Source
Alabama ALMobile County Public Schools only; not statewide	AugAug 10, 2026	Mar-AprMar 29, 2027 – Apr 2, 2027	MayMay 26, 2027	Source Checked on 2026-10-04
Colorado CODistricts vary	AugAug 17, 2026	Mar-AprMar 29, 2027 – Apr 2, 2027	MayMay 28, 2027	Source
Connecticut CTDistricts vary	AugAug 31, 2026	Mar-AprMar 29, 2027 – Apr 2, 2027	JunJun 18, 2027	Source
Indiana INIndianapolis Public Schools only; not statewide	AugAug 10, 2026	MarMar 15, 2027 – Mar 19, 2027	MayMay 27, 2027	Source Checked on 2026-10-04
Iowa IADistricts vary	AugAug 24, 2026	Mar-AprMar 29, 2027 – Apr 2, 2027	MayMay 28, 2027	Source
Kentucky KYDistricts vary	AugAug 12, 2026	Mar-AprMar 29, 2027 – Apr 2, 2027	MayMay 28, 2027	Source
Louisiana LADistricts vary	AugAug 10, 2026	Mar-AprMar 29, 2027 – Apr 2, 2027	MayMay 21, 2027	Source
Maryland MDMontgomery County Public Schools only; not statewide	AugAug 25, 2026	Mar-AprMar 26, 2027 – Apr 2, 2027	JunJun 11, 2027	Source Checked on 2026-10-25
Massachusetts MABoston Public Schools only; not statewide	SepSep 8, 2026	AprApr 20, 2027 – Apr 23, 2027	JunJun 22, 2027	Source Checked on 2026-10-04
Michigan MIAnn Arbor Public Schools only; not statewide	AugAug 31, 2026	Mar-AprMar 26, 2027 – Apr 2, 2027	JunJun 16, 2027	Source Checked on 2026-10-04
Minnesota MNMinneapolis Public Schools only; not statewide	SepSep 8, 2026	AprApr 5, 2027 – Apr 9, 2027	JunJun 11, 2027	Source Checked on 2026-10-04
Missouri MODistricts vary	AugAug 24, 2026	Mar-AprMar 29, 2027 – Apr 2, 2027	MayMay 28, 2027	Source
New Jersey NJDistricts vary	SepSep 2, 2026	Mar-AprMar 29, 2027 – Apr 2, 2027	JunJun 18, 2027	Source
Oklahoma OKDistricts vary	AugAug 19, 2026	Mar-AprMar 29, 2027 – Apr 2, 2027	MayMay 21, 2027	Source
Oregon ORDistricts vary	SepSep 2, 2026	Mar-AprMar 29, 2027 – Apr 2, 2027	JunJun 18, 2027	Source
South Carolina SCGreenville County Schools only; not statewide	AugAug 11, 2026	MarMar 22, 2027 – Mar 26, 2027	MayMay 27, 2027	Source Checked on 2026-10-04
Tennessee TNMetro Nashville Public Schools only; not statewide	AugAug 11, 2026	MarMar 22, 2027 – Mar 26, 2027	MayMay 25, 2027	Source Checked on 2026-10-04
Utah UTDistricts vary	AugAug 18, 2026	Mar-AprMar 29, 2027 – Apr 2, 2027	MayMay 28, 2027	Source
Virginia VADistricts vary	AugAug 12, 2026	Mar-AprMar 29, 2027 – Apr 2, 2027	JunJun 11, 2027	Source
Washington WASeattle Public Schools only; not statewide	SepSep 2, 2026	AprApr 12, 2027 – Apr 16, 2027	JunJun 21, 2027	Source Checked on 2026-09-30
Washington DC DCDistricts vary	AugAug 24, 2026	MarMar 22, 2027 – Mar 26, 2027	JunJun 17, 2027	Source
Wisconsin WIDistricts vary	SepSep 1, 2026	Mar-AprMar 29, 2027 – Apr 2, 2027	JunJun 11, 2027	Source
Alaska AKDistricts vary	AugAug 17, 2026	Mar-AprMar 29, 2027 – Apr 2, 2027	MayMay 21, 2027	Source
Arkansas ARDistricts vary	AugAug 17, 2026	Mar-AprMar 29, 2027 – Apr 2, 2027	MayMay 21, 2027	Source
Delaware DEDistricts vary	SepSep 2, 2026	Mar-AprMar 29, 2027 – Apr 2, 2027	JunJun 18, 2027	Source
Hawaii HIDistricts vary	AugAug 3, 2026	Mar-AprMar 29, 2027 – Apr 2, 2027	MayMay 28, 2027	Source
Idaho IDDistricts vary	AugAug 24, 2026	Mar-AprMar 29, 2027 – Apr 2, 2027	MayMay 28, 2027	Source
Kansas KSDistricts vary	AugAug 17, 2026	Mar-AprMar 29, 2027 – Apr 2, 2027	MayMay 21, 2027	Source
Maine MEDistricts vary	SepSep 2, 2026	Mar-AprMar 29, 2027 – Apr 2, 2027	JunJun 18, 2027	Source
Mississippi MSDistricts vary	AugAug 3, 2026	Mar-AprMar 29, 2027 – Apr 2, 2027	MayMay 21, 2027	Source
Montana MTDistricts vary	SepSep 2, 2026	Mar-AprMar 29, 2027 – Apr 2, 2027	MayMay 28, 2027	Source
Nebraska NEDistricts vary	AugAug 17, 2026	Mar-AprMar 29, 2027 – Apr 2, 2027	MayMay 21, 2027	Source
Nevada NVDistricts vary	AugAug 10, 2026	Mar-AprMar 29, 2027 – Apr 2, 2027	MayMay 28, 2027	Source
New Hampshire NHDistricts vary	SepSep 2, 2026	Mar-AprMar 29, 2027 – Apr 2, 2027	JunJun 18, 2027	Source
New Mexico NMDistricts vary	AugAug 10, 2026	Mar-AprMar 29, 2027 – Apr 2, 2027	MayMay 21, 2027	Source
North Dakota NDDistricts vary	AugAug 24, 2026	Mar-AprMar 29, 2027 – Apr 2, 2027	MayMay 21, 2027	Source
Rhode Island RIDistricts vary	SepSep 2, 2026	Mar-AprMar 29, 2027 – Apr 2, 2027	JunJun 18, 2027	Source
South Dakota SDDistricts vary	AugAug 24, 2026	Mar-AprMar 29, 2027 – Apr 2, 2027	MayMay 21, 2027	Source
Vermont VTDistricts vary	SepSep 2, 2026	Mar-AprMar 29, 2027 – Apr 2, 2027	JunJun 18, 2027	Source
West Virginia WVDistricts vary	AugAug 24, 2026	Mar-AprMar 29, 2027 – Apr 2, 2027	MayMay 28, 2027	Source
Wyoming WYDistricts vary	AugAug 24, 2026	Mar-AprMar 29, 2027 – Apr 2, 2027	MayMay 21, 2027	Source

Earlier starts

Arizona, Georgia, Texas, and parts of Florida often include early August or late July starts.

After Labor Day

Some northeastern districts begin after Labor Day, especially where summer tourism or local tradition affects calendars.

District approval

Most school calendars require local board approval, so final dates can change before publication.

First day of school FAQ

When is the first day of school in 2026?

The first day of school for the 2026-2027 school year varies by state and district. Many southern and western districts start in late July or early August, while many northeastern districts start after Labor Day.

Why do school start dates vary so much?

States set instructional requirements, but local school districts usually approve their own calendars. Weather patterns, testing windows, holidays, and teacher planning days all affect the final start date.

Are state-level first day dates final?

State-level dates are useful planning references, but families should confirm final first-day dates with their local school district before making childcare or travel plans.