First Calendar Survey for 2026-2028 SY
Summary
© 2025
I am a: (select one)
(N = 5,418)
Parent/Guardian 56%
DCSD Employee 30%
Parent/Guardian and DCSD Employee 8%
Student 4%
Community Member 2%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
2 © 2025
When do you think the first day of school should be? (select one)
(N = 5,368)
Mid-August 45%
Early August 37%
Late August 18%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
3 © 2025
Which factor is most important to you when creating the school calendar? (select three)
(N = 5,394)
Ending the school year before Memorial Day 59%
Having a longer Summer Break 48%
Ending the first semester before Winter Break 39%
Having more breaks or longer breaks throughout the year 37%
Aligning with neighboring districts 26%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
4 © 2025
How should professional development (PD) days for staff be scheduled? (select one)
(N = 5,332)
Multiple full days throughout the year 55%
Regularly scheduled early release days 45%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
5 © 2025
Would you prefer longer breaks throughout the school year, even if it means a shorter summer break? (select one)
(N = 5,394)
No 69%
Yes 31%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
6 © 2025
DCSD Employees Only: How much pre-planning time do you feel is needed before the school year begins? (select one)
(N = 2,613)
4-6 days 47%
1-3 days 33%
7 or more days 20%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
7 © 2025
First Calendar Survey for 2026-2028 SY
Parent/Guardian
© 2025
I am a: (select one)
(N = 3,026)
Parent/Guardian 100%
Student 0%
Parent/Guardian and DCSD Employee 0%
DCSD Employee 0%
Community Member 0%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
2 © 2025
When do you think the first day of school should be? (select one)
(N = 2,999)
Mid-August 48%
Early August 35%
Late August 17%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
3 © 2025
Which factor is most important to you when creating the school calendar? (select three)
(N = 3,011)
Ending the school year before Memorial Day 63%
Having a longer Summer Break 50%
Ending the first semester before Winter Break 45%
Aligning with neighboring districts 27%
Having more breaks or longer breaks throughout the year 24%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
4 © 2025
How should professional development (PD) days for staff be scheduled? (select one)
(N = 2,966)
Multiple full days throughout the year 62%
Regularly scheduled early release days 38%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
5 © 2025
Would you prefer longer breaks throughout the school year, even if it means a shorter summer break? (select one)
(N = 3,011)
No 77%
Yes 23%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
6 © 2025
DCSD Employees Only: How much pre-planning time do you feel is needed before the school year begins? (select one)
(N = 467)
1-3 days 38%
4-6 days 35%
7 or more days 26%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
7 © 2025
First Calendar Survey for 2026-2028 SY
DCSD Employee
© 2025
I am a: (select one)
(N = 1,646)
DCSD Employee 100%
Student 0%
Parent/Guardian and DCSD Employee 0%
Parent/Guardian 0%
Community Member 0%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
2 © 2025
When do you think the first day of school should be? (select one)
(N = 1,628)
Early August 41%
Mid-August 40%
Late August 19%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
3 © 2025
Which factor is most important to you when creating the school calendar? (select three)
(N = 1,640)
Having more breaks or longer breaks throughout the year 56%
Ending the school year before Memorial Day 53%
Having a longer Summer Break 43%
Ending the first semester before Winter Break 28%
Aligning with neighboring districts 25%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
4 © 2025
How should professional development (PD) days for staff be scheduled? (select one)
(N = 1,631)
Regularly scheduled early release days 55%
Multiple full days throughout the year 45%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
5 © 2025
Would you prefer longer breaks throughout the school year, even if it means a shorter summer break? (select one)
(N = 1,643)
No 56%
Yes 44%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
6 © 2025
DCSD Employees Only: How much pre-planning time do you feel is needed before the school year begins? (select one)
(N = 1,634)
4-6 days 50%
1-3 days 31%
7 or more days 19%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
7 © 2025
First Calendar Survey for 2026-2028 SY
Parent/Guardian & DCSD Employee
© 2025
I am a: (select one)
(N = 413)
Parent/Guardian and DCSD Employee 100%
Student 0%
Parent/Guardian 0%
DCSD Employee 0%
Community Member 0%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
2 © 2025
When do you think the first day of school should be? (select one)
(N = 410)
Mid-August 45%
Early August 39%
Late August 16%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
3 © 2025
Which factor is most important to you when creating the school calendar? (select three)
(N = 412)
Having more breaks or longer breaks throughout the year 56%
Ending the school year before Memorial Day 53%
Having a longer Summer Break 48%
Ending the first semester before Winter Break 33%
Aligning with neighboring districts 25%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
4 © 2025
How should professional development (PD) days for staff be scheduled? (select one)
(N = 411)
Regularly scheduled early release days 53%
Multiple full days throughout the year 47%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
5 © 2025
Would you prefer longer breaks throughout the school year, even if it means a shorter summer break? (select one)
(N = 409)
No 56%
Yes 44%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
6 © 2025
DCSD Employees Only: How much pre-planning time do you feel is needed before the school year begins? (select one)
(N = 406)
4-6 days 50%
1-3 days 33%
7 or more days 17%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
7 © 2025
First Calendar Survey for 2026-2028 SY
Student
© 2025
I am a: (select one)
(N = 214)
Student 100%
Parent/Guardian and DCSD Employee 0%
Parent/Guardian 0%
DCSD Employee 0%
Community Member 0%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
2 © 2025
When do you think the first day of school should be? (select one)
(N = 212)
Mid-August 49%
Early August 30%
Late August 21%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
3 © 2025
Which factor is most important to you when creating the school calendar? (select three)
(N = 213)
Having a longer Summer Break 68%
Ending the school year before Memorial Day 65%
Having more breaks or longer breaks throughout the year 41%
Ending the first semester before Winter Break 40%
Aligning with neighboring districts 27%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
4 © 2025
How should professional development (PD) days for staff be scheduled? (select one)
(N = 206)
Multiple full days throughout the year 51%
Regularly scheduled early release days 49%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
5 © 2025
Would you prefer longer breaks throughout the school year, even if it means a shorter summer break? (select one)
(N = 214)
No 74%
Yes 26%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
6 © 2025
DCSD Employees Only: How much pre-planning time do you feel is needed before the school year begins? (select one)
(N = 66)
4-6 days 38%
7 or more days 35%
1-3 days 27%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
7 © 2025
First Calendar Survey for 2026-2028 SY
Community Member
© 2025
I am a: (select one)
(N = 119)
Community Member 100%
Student 0%
Parent/Guardian and DCSD Employee 0%
Parent/Guardian 0%
DCSD Employee 0%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
2 © 2025
When do you think the first day of school should be? (select one)
(N = 119)
Mid-August 52%
Early August 24%
Late August 24%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
3 © 2025
Which factor is most important to you when creating the school calendar? (select three)
(N = 118)
Ending the school year before Memorial Day 45%
Having a longer Summer Break 42%
Ending the first semester before Winter Break 39%
Having more breaks or longer breaks throughout the year 32%
Aligning with neighboring districts 28%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
4 © 2025
How should professional development (PD) days for staff be scheduled? (select one)
(N = 118)
Multiple full days throughout the year 53%
Regularly scheduled early release days 47%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
5 © 2025
Would you prefer longer breaks throughout the school year, even if it means a shorter summer break? (select one)
(N = 117)
No 69%
Yes 31%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
6 © 2025
DCSD Employees Only: How much pre-planning time do you feel is needed before the school year begins? (select one)
(N = 40)
4-6 days 40%
1-3 days 40%
7 or more days 20%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
7 © 2025