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When Does School Start in America? 2026-2027 Start Dates by State

Most American schools start the school year in August or early September and finish in late May or early June — but the exact first day depends on your state and district. Southern states often open in late July or early August, while many Northeastern districts wait until after Labor Day.

Below are the typical first-day-of-school windows for the 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 school years across all 50 states and the District of Columbia, starting with early openers like Arizona (July 30 - August 5, 2026). Select your state for the full calendar including winter break, spring break and summer break.

Last updated: · Next review: June 2027

Dates vary by district. Use the statewide windows below for planning, then confirm with your local school district calendar before booking travel.

First day of school by state

Statewide start windows. Districts within a state can differ by a week or more — tap your state for district-level detail and the rest of the year's breaks.

First day of school by state
State2026-27 first day2027-28 first day
AlabamaAugust 6 - 7, 2026August 5 - 6, 2027
AlaskaAugust 13 - 18, 2026August 12 - 17, 2027
ArizonaJuly 30 - August 5, 2026July 29 - August 4, 2027
ArkansasAugust 24, 2026August 23, 2027
CaliforniaAugust 10 - 17, 2026August 9 - 16, 2027
ColoradoAugust 10 - 17, 2026August 9 - 16, 2027
ConnecticutAugust 26 - 31, 2026August 25 - 30, 2027
DelawareAugust 31, 2026August 30, 2027
District of ColumbiaAugust 24, 2026August 23, 2027
FloridaAugust 10 - 12, 2026August 10, 2027
GeorgiaAugust 3 - 6, 2026August 2 - 5, 2027
HawaiiAugust 3, 2026August 2, 2027
IdahoAugust 24, 2026August 16 - 23, 2027
IllinoisAugust 24 - 26, 2026August 23 - 25, 2027
IndianaAugust 5 - 6, 2026August 4 - 5, 2027
IowaAugust 24 - 25, 2026August 23 - 24, 2027
KansasAugust 13 - 17, 2026August 11 - 13, 2027
KentuckyAugust 12 - 13, 2026August 11 - 12, 2027
LouisianaAugust 6 - 10, 2026August 5 - 9, 2027
MaineAugust 31, 2026August 30 - 31, 2027
MarylandAugust 24 - 25, 2026August 23 - 30, 2027
MassachusettsAugust 31 - September 2, 2026August 30 - September 1, 2027
MichiganAugust 31 - September 8, 2026August 30 - September 7, 2027
MinnesotaSeptember 8, 2026September 7, 2027
MississippiAugust 3 - 7, 2026August 2 - 6, 2027
MissouriAugust 24, 2026August 23, 2027
MontanaAugust 24 - 31, 2026August 23 - 30, 2027
NebraskaAugust 12 - 17, 2026August 11 - 16, 2027
NevadaAugust 10, 2026August 9, 2027
New HampshireAugust 31 - September 1, 2026August 30 - 31, 2027
New JerseySeptember 3 - 8, 2026September 2 - 8, 2027
New MexicoAugust 13, 2026August 11 - 16, 2027
New YorkSeptember 8 - 10, 2026September 7 - 9, 2027
North CarolinaAugust 25, 2026August 24 - 30, 2027
North DakotaAugust 21, 2026August 20 - 25, 2027
OhioAugust 18, 2026August 16 - 20, 2027
OklahomaAugust 14, 2026August 12 - 17, 2027
OregonAugust 31 - September 2, 2026August 30 - September 1, 2027
PennsylvaniaAugust 24 - September 8, 2026August 23 - September 7, 2027
Rhode IslandSeptember 1 - 3, 2026August 31 - September 2, 2027
South CarolinaAugust 3 - 17, 2026August 16, 2027
South DakotaAugust 20 - 24, 2026August 23 - 30, 2027
TennesseeAugust 10 - 11, 2026August 9, 2027
TexasAugust 10 - 17, 2026August 9 - 16, 2027
UtahAugust 17 - 19, 2026August 16 - 18, 2027
VermontAugust 26 - 31, 2026August 25 - 30, 2027
VirginiaAugust 24 - September 8, 2026August 23 - September 7, 2027
WashingtonSeptember 2, 2026September 1, 2027
West VirginiaAugust 19, 2026August 18, 2027
WisconsinSeptember 1, 2026September 1, 2027
WyomingAugust 17 - 25, 2026August 16 - 24, 2027

School start dates: quick answers

When does school start in America in 2026?

Most American schools start the 2026-2027 year in August or early September. The earliest starters begin in late July — Arizona schools open around July 30 - August 5, 2026. Exact dates vary by district.

When does school start in America in 2027?

Most American schools start the 2027-2028 year in August or early September, with the earliest districts in Arizona opening around July 29 - August 4, 2027. Check the table for your state's window and confirm with your local district.

Which states start school earliest?

Arizona is among the earliest starters, with schools opening around July 30 - August 5, 2026 for 2026-2027. Southern states such as Arizona, Georgia, Mississippi and Texas typically start in late July or early August, while Northeastern states often wait until after Labor Day in September.

When does school end in America?

Most American schools finish in late May or early June. See each state page for the exact last-day windows, which determine when summer break begins in your district.

Do school start dates vary by district?

Yes. The dates below are statewide planning windows — our estimate of when most schools in each state start — not any one district's official calendar. Neighboring districts can differ by a week or more, so always confirm the first day with your local school before making plans.

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