Alexandria School Board approves 2027-28 academic calendars
School year to start August 23, 2027; staff preparing for "unique challenges" in 2028-29
The Alexandria City School Board unanimously approved academic calendars for the 2027-28 school year on Thursday, along with revisions to the current 2026-27 calendars.
The calendars were approved on the consent calendar without discussion.
2027-28 Traditional Calendar
Students at most ACPS schools will start classes on Monday, August 23, 2027, and end on Tuesday, June 15, 2028. The calendar includes 180 instructional days.
Key dates:
First day of school: August 23, 2027
Fall Break/Thanksgiving: November 24-26, 2027
Winter Break: December 20-31, 2027
Spring Break: April 10-14, 2028
Last day of school: June 15, 2028
The calendar recognizes Yom Kippur, Indigenous Peoples Day, Diwali, Eid al-Adha, and Juneteenth.
2027-28 Modified Calendar
Students at Samuel Tucker Elementary, which operates on a year-round modified calendar, will start on Monday, July 26, 2027, and end on June 15, 2028.
The modified calendar includes intersession periods in October, March, and April, providing additional learning time and breaks throughout the year.
Looking ahead to 2028-29
In their presentation materials, staff previewed challenges for the 2028-29 calendar, which has not yet been finalized.
Multiple holidays fall on Tuesdays or Thursdays that year, creating isolated learning days in most months:
Thursday, September 21: Rosh Hashanah
Tuesday, October 17: Diwali
Tuesday, November 7: Election Day
Thursday, February 15: Eid al-Fitr
Tuesday, April 24: Eid al-Adha
Election Day and Veterans Day also fall in the same week, and winter break falls on the latest possible day, with students’ last day on Friday, December 22, 2028, and returning Monday, January 8, 2029.
2026-27 Traditional Calendar (revised)
The board approved revisions to the current school year calendars. Students at most ACPS schools will finish on Thursday, June 17, 2027.
Key dates:
First day of school: August 24, 2026
Fall Break/Thanksgiving: November 25-27, 2026
Winter Break: December 21-31, 2026 and January 1, 2027
Spring Break: March 22-26, 2027
Last day of school: June 17, 2027
2026-27 Modified Calendar (revised)
Students at Samuel Tucker Elementary started on Thursday, August 27, 2026, and will finish on June 17, 2027.
The modified calendar includes intersession periods in late September through early October, late March through early April, providing additional learning time throughout the year.