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2026-2028 Metro Area Calendars Comparison Charts

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Agenda Item

b. Approval of 2026-2028 School Calendars ~ Updated 11.3.2025

Summary: Presented by: Ms. Stacy E. Stepney, Administrator, Superintendent’s Office
Request: It is requested that the Board of Education approve the calendars for the next two school years. This item establishes the school calendars for the school district during the period of July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2028.
Why: Per Board Policy AEA, the Board of Education shall adopt a calendar that includes the date for teachers to report for duty, dates of service for teachers, days of attendance for students, days affecting students and teachers, holidays, and breaks.
Details: The 2026-2028 school calendars contain the following features:


190 teacher-contract days including one evening workday comprised of four conference nights during the year as scheduled by each local school (Each conference night is two hours.)
180 days of instruction
Nine teacher workdays/professional development days
October Fall Break
Thanksgiving Break
Conclude first semester prior to winter break to prevent students from taking final exams or state-mandated tests at the beginning of second semester
One day in January for post planning/pre-planning
February Winter Break
Independent Learner Day - remote school day for students and professional development day for teachers
Two inclement weather days per semester
Spring Break - first full week in April
Last day of school for students before Memorial Day
Post-planning day for teachers before Memorial Day

The Superintendent reserves the right to make determinations deemed to be in the best interest of students and staff in the event of inclement weather or other emergency conditions. Such determinations may include, but are not limited to, school closures, delayed openings, early dismissals, transitions to virtual learning, or implementing inclement weather days as circumstances warrant.
Financial impact: No Financial Impact to the District
Contact: Ms. Stacy E. Stepney, Administrator, Superintendent’s Office, 678-676-0218,
Mrs. Jennifer Caracciolo, Interim Chief of Community Engagement & Innovative Partnerships, Division of Community Engagement & Innovative Partnerships, 678-676-0218,
Mr. Jason Kennedy, Deputy Chief of Human Resource Officer, Division of Human Resources, 678-676-0005
Effective: July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2028
Status: Approved by Office of Legal Affairs
                                                                                                     2026-2027 Metro Area Calendars
                                                                                                                                                                          Gwinnett
                                                                                                         Clayton
                                                                                                                     Cobb County School                                    County
Calendar Attributes                              Atlanta Public Schools       City Schools of Decatur    County                                 Fulton County Schools                 Henry County Schools        Rockdale County Schools
                                                                                                                          District                                         Public
                                                                                                         Schools
                                                                                                                                                                          Schools
Pre-planning                                           July 27-31                    July 23-31                           July 27-31                  July 27-31                            July 23-31                   July 24-31
First day of school                                      3-Aug                         3-Aug                                3-Aug                       3-Aug                                 3-Aug                        3-Aug
Labor Day                                               Holiday                       Holiday                              Holiday                     Holiday                               Holiday                      Holiday
Fall Break                                        October 12-16, 2026         September 21-25, 2026                 September 21-25, 2026      September 21-25, 2026                    October 5-9, 2026             October 5-9, 2026
                                                                                                                                                Holiday for staff and
Indigenous Peoples’ Day/Columbus Day              Holiday for students          Holiday for students                     School Day                                                         School Day                   School Day
                                                                                                                                                     students
Indigenous Peoples’ Day/Columbus
                                                         12-Oct                       12-Oct
Day/Teacher PL Day
Teacher’s Workday                                        13-Oct

                                               Professional Development                                                                                                              Professional Development
                                                                                                                   Staff Day/Students Do Not
Election Day - November 3, 2026               Day for Staff/Students Do Not     Digital Learning Day                                            Remote Learning Day                     Day/ Asynchronous                School Day
                                                                                                                             Report
                                                          Report                                                                                                                       Learning for Students

Thanksgiving Break                               November 23-27, 2026          November 23-27, 2026                 November 23-27, 2026        November 23-27, 2026                  November 23-27, 2026         November 23-27, 2026
Last day of 1st semester                             18-Dec-26                     18-Dec-26                            18-Dec-26                   18-Dec-26                             18-Dec-26                      18-Dec-26
                                                December 21 - January 1,      December 21 - January 4,             December 21 - January 4,    December 21 - January 4,              December 21 - January 5,
Winter Break                                                                                                                                                                                                    December 21 - January 4, 2027
                                                       2027                          2027                                 2027                        2027                                  2027
Post planning 1st semester/Pre-planning
                                                        4-Jan-27                     4-Jan-27                              4-Jan-27                   4-Jan-27                           January 4-5, 2027                4-Jan-27
2nd semester
First day of 2nd semester                               5-Jan-27                     5-Jan-27                              5-Jan-27                   5-Jan-27                               6-Jan-27                     5-Jan-27
M. L. King, Jr. Birthday - January 18, 2027             Holiday                       Holiday                              Holiday                     Holiday                               Holiday                      Holiday
                                               Professional Development
Presidents’ Day - February 15, 2027           Day for Staff/Students Do Not                                                                                                                  Holiday            Independent Learning/PL Day
                                                          Report
February Break                                   February 16- 19, 2025         February 15-19, 2027                  February 15-19, 2027       February 15-17, 2027                   February 16-19, 2027         February 16-19, 2027
Professional Development Day/Students
                                                                                                                                                February 18-19, 2027
Do Not Report
Teacher’s Workday                                                                                                                                                                           19-Mar-27                    26-Mar-27
Spring Break                                         April 5-9, 2027               April 5-9, 2027                      April 5-9, 2027             April 5-9, 2027                       April 5-9, 2027              April 5-9, 2027
Last day of school                                     27-May-27                     27-May-27                            19-May-27                   27-May-27                             26-May-27                    27-May-27
Post planning                                          28-May-27                     28-May-27                         Ma 20-21, 2027                 28-May-27                          May 27-28, 2027                 28-May-27
Memorial Day                                           31-May-27                     31-May-27                            31-May-27                   31-May-27                             31-May-27                    31-May-27
Number of days 1st semester                                88                            88                                   88                          88                                    89                           88
Number of days 2nd semester                                92                            92                                   86                          91                                    90                           92
Early Release Days or Late Start Days                      2                             5                                    0                           0                                     2                             2
Total number of school days                               180                           180                                  174                         179                                   179                          180
                                                                                                 2027-2028 Metro Area Calendars
                                                                                                        Clayton   Cobb County School                           Gwinnett
Calendar Attributes                              Atlanta Public Schools       City Schools of Decatur                                  Fulton County Schools               Henry County Schools        Rockdale County Schools
                                                                                                        County         District                                 County
Pre-planning                                       July 26-30, 2027                                                                                                           July 22-30, 2027             July 23-30, 2027
First day of school                                      2-Aug                                                                                                                      2-Aug                        2-Aug
Labor Day                                               Holiday                                                                                                                    Holiday                      Holiday
Fall Break                                        October 11-15, 2027                                                                                                        October 4-8, 2027            October 4-8, 2027
Indigenous Peoples’ Day/Columbus Day              Holiday for students                                                                                                          School Day                    School Day
Indigenous Peoples’ Day/Columbus
                                                         11-Oct
Day/Teacher PL Day
Teacher’s Workday                                                                                                                                                                                               25-Oct
                                               Professional Development                                                                                                   Professional Development
Election Day November 2, 2027                 Day for Staff/Students Do Not                                                                                                  Day/ Asynchronous             Teacher Workday
                                                          Report                                                                                                            Learning for Students
Thanksgiving Break                               November 22-26, 2027                                                                                                      November 22-26, 2027         November 22-26, 2027
Last day of 1st semester                              17-Dec-27                                                                                                                 17-Dec-27                    17-Dec-27
                                                December 20 - January 3,                                                                                                  December 20 - January 4,
Winter Break                                                                                                                                                                                         December 20 - January 3, 2028
                                                        2028                                                                                                                      2028
                  st
Post planning 1 semester/Pre-planning
                                                        3-Jan-28                                                                                                             January 3-4, 2028                 3-Jan-28
2nd semester
             nd
First day of 2 semester                                 4-Jan-28                                                                                                                  5-Jan-28                     4-Jan-28

M. L. King, Jr. Birthday - January 17, 2028             Holiday                                                                                                                   Holiday                      Holiday
                                               Professional Development
Presidents’ Day - February 21, 2028           Day for Staff/Students Do Not                                                                                                       Holiday                     School Day
                                                          Report
February Break                                    February 22-25, 2028                                                                                                      February 22-25, 2028         February 14-18, 2028
Professional Development Day/Students
Do Not Report
Teacher’s Workday                                                                                                                                                                17-Mar-28                    31-Mar-28
Spring Break                                         April 3-7, 2028                                                                                                           April 3-7, 2028              April 3-7, 2028
Last day of school                                    26-May-28                                                                                                                 24-May-28                    26-May-28
Post planning                                         30-May-28                                                                                                               May 25-26, 2028                30-May-28
Memorial Day                                          29-May-28                                                                                                                 29-May-28                    29-May-28
Number of days 1st semester                                 88                                                                                                                        89                           88
Number of days 2nd semester                                92                                                                                                                       90                            92
Early Release Days or Late Start Days                      1                                                                                                                        2                             2