Missouri School Calendar 2026-2027

Missouri's public school system is administered by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and encompasses more than 500 school districts serving students across a geographically and demographically diverse state. Missouri is distinctive in that it requires a minimum of 174 instructional days or 1,044 instructional hours per year — slightly fewer days than the 180-day standard common in many other states, though the hourly requirement ensures comparable instructional time. Most Missouri districts begin the academic year in mid-to-late August and conclude in late May. The state administers the Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) in spring, which measures student achievement in English language arts, mathematics, and science. Missouri has a strong tradition of local control in education, and individual districts have considerable flexibility in setting their calendars, professional development schedules, and instructional priorities. The Kansas City and St. Louis metropolitan areas contain numerous independent school districts with varying calendars, and both cities have experienced significant school reform efforts in recent decades. Rural districts in the Ozarks and Bootheel regions may schedule breaks differently to accommodate local agricultural and community events. Families should always confirm specific calendar dates with their local district, as break schedules and start dates can differ meaningfully across Missouri's diverse regions.