Washington School Calendar 2026-2027

Washington State's public education system is overseen by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and encompasses nearly 300 school districts serving students from the Pacific coast to the eastern high desert. The state mandates 180 instructional days per academic year, with most districts beginning in early September after Labor Day and concluding in mid-to-late June. Washington's diverse geography creates notable regional differences in school calendars: western Washington districts, including Seattle Public Schools, may schedule breaks around local weather patterns, while eastern Washington agricultural communities sometimes adjust calendars to accommodate harvest seasons. The state has invested significantly in early learning programs and has expanded access to full-day kindergarten statewide. Washington also administers the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) tests in spring, which measure student proficiency in English language arts and mathematics. The state does not have a statewide income tax, and school funding has historically been a subject of significant legislative and judicial attention, including the landmark McCleary decision that required the legislature to fully fund basic education. Families should verify calendar details with their local district, as start and end dates, as well as break schedules, can differ meaningfully across the state.