If you’re a Bismarck parent, teacher, or student, this page is your one-stop spot for the Bismarck Public Schools Calendar 26-27. We verified this directly from Bismarck Public Schools’ official website and the district’s published 2026-2027 calendar PDF, so you’re not guessing at dates from an old Facebook post or a random calendar app.
Bismarck Public Schools is North Dakota’s largest school district, serving Burleigh County and the surrounding Bismarck-Mandan area. The 2026-2027 academic year runs from August 20, 2026 through May 26, 2027. Below you’ll find the first day of school, the last day of school, every break, every teacher workday, and a full printable-style breakdown by month.
Parents bookmark this page because school calendars change — snow days get added, conference days shift, and it’s a hassle to dig through a PDF every time you need to check a date. Keep this page handy and you’ll always know what’s coming next for Bismarck Public Schools Calendar 2026 27.
At-a-Glance Summary
Here’s the quick version, for parents who just need the essentials before they run out the door.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| District | Bismarck Public Schools |
| State | North Dakota |
| Academic Year | 2026-2027 |
| First day of school | August 20, 2026 |
| Last day of school | May 26, 2027 |
| Total classroom instruction days | 174 days |
| Next upcoming holiday (as of Aug 23, 2026) | Labor Day, September 7, 2026 |
Bismarck Public Schools Calendar 26-27 First Day of School: Key Dates Table
This is the heart of the Bismarck Public Schools Calendar 26-27 printable — every major date pulled straight from the district’s official calendar, laid out so you don’t have to squint at a PDF.
| Event | Start Date | End Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher Work Day | Aug. 14, 2026 | — | No students |
| Staff Development Days | Aug. 17, 2026 | Aug. 19, 2026 | No students |
| First Day of School | Aug. 20, 2026 | — | All grades |
| Labor Day | Sept. 7, 2026 | — | No school |
| Staff Development Day | Sept. 21, 2026 | — | No school |
| Admin Convention Days | Oct. 22, 2026 | Oct. 23, 2026 | No school |
| Veterans Day | Nov. 11, 2026 | — | No school |
| Thanksgiving Break | Nov. 26, 2026 | Nov. 27, 2026 | No school (Thanksgiving Day + Break Day) |
| Teacher Conference Day | Dec. 21, 2026 | — | No school |
| Winter Break | Dec. 22, 2026 | Jan. 1, 2027 | No school; includes Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day |
| Staff Development Day | Jan. 4, 2027 | — | No school |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Jan. 18, 2027 | — | No school |
| Presidents’ Day | Feb. 15, 2027 | — | No school |
| Staff Development Day | Feb. 16, 2027 | — | No school |
| Storm Make-Up Day | Mar. 4, 2027 | — | No school |
| Parent-Teacher Conference Day | Mar. 5, 2027 | — | No school |
| Good Friday | Mar. 26, 2027 | — | No school |
| Easter/Spring Break | Mar. 29, 2027 | — | No school |
| Storm Make-Up Day | Apr. 23, 2027 | — | No school |
| Last Day of School | May 26, 2027 | — | ALC & SCHS graduation schedule posted online same day |
| Teacher Work Day | May 27, 2027 | — | No students |
| High School Graduations | May 30, 2027 | — | Schedule posted online |
| Memorial Day | May 31, 2027 | — | No school |
Source: Bismarck Public Schools official calendar.
Bismarck Public Schools Calendar 2026 27 Template: Full Month-by-Month Breakdown
For anyone who wants the complete Bismarck Public Schools Calendar 2026 27 template, laid out month by month with every single date the district published.
| Month | Date | Event |
|---|---|---|
| August 2026 | Aug. 14 | Teacher Work Day |
| August 2026 | Aug. 17-19 | Staff Development Days |
| August 2026 | Aug. 20 | First Day of School |
| September 2026 | Sept. 7 | Labor Day, no school |
| September 2026 | Sept. 21 | Staff Development Day, no school |
| October 2026 | Oct. 22-23 | Admin Convention Days, no school |
| October 2026 | Oct. 21 | End of 1st Quarter (Grades 6-12) |
| November 2026 | Nov. 11 | Veterans Day, no school |
| November 2026 | Nov. 13 | End of 1st Trimester (Grades K-5) |
| November 2026 | Nov. 26 | Thanksgiving Day, no school |
| November 2026 | Nov. 27 | Thanksgiving Break, no school |
| December 2026 | Dec. 21 | Teacher Conference Day, no school |
| December 2026 | Dec. 22 | Winter Break begins, no school |
| December 2026 | Dec. 24 | Christmas Eve, no school |
| December 2026 | Dec. 25 | Christmas Day, no school |
| December 2026 | Dec. 31 | New Year’s Eve, no school |
| January 2027 | Jan. 1 | New Year’s Day, no school |
| January 2027 | Jan. 4 | Staff Development Day, no school |
| January 2027 | Jan. 15 | End of 2nd Quarter (Grades 6-12) |
| January 2027 | Jan. 18 | Martin Luther King Day, no school |
| February 2027 | Feb. 15 | Presidents’ Day, no school |
| February 2027 | Feb. 16 | Staff Development Day, no school |
| February 2027 | Feb. 19 | End of 2nd Trimester (Grades K-5) |
| March 2027 | Mar. 4 | Storm Make-Up Day, no school |
| March 2027 | Mar. 5 | Parent-Teacher Conference Day, no school |
| March 2027 | Mar. 19 | End of 3rd Quarter (Grades 6-12) |
| March 2027 | Mar. 26 | Good Friday, no school |
| March 2027 | Mar. 29 | Easter Break, no school |
| April 2027 | Apr. 23 | Storm Make-Up Day, no school |
| May 2027 | May 26 | Last Day of School / End of 3rd Trimester (K-5) / End of 4th Quarter (6-12) / ALC & SCHS Graduation |
| May 2027 | May 27 | Teacher Work Day |
| May 2027 | May 30 | High School Graduations |
| May 2027 | May 31 | Memorial Day |
| June 2027 | June 1-24 | Middle School Summer School (Mon-Thurs) |
| June 2027 | June 1-16 | HS Summer School Session 1 |
| June-July 2027 | June 17-July 1 | HS Summer School Session 2 |
Source: Bismarck Public Schools official calendar.
Grading Period Breakdown
Bismarck runs on two different grading systems depending on grade level. Grades K-5 use trimesters. Grades 6-12 use quarters. Here’s how they line up.
| Grade Level | Period | End Date |
|---|---|---|
| K-5 | 1st Trimester | Nov. 13, 2026 |
| K-5 | 2nd Trimester | Feb. 19, 2027 |
| K-5 | 3rd Trimester | May 27, 2027 |
| 6-12 | 1st Quarter | Oct. 21, 2026 |
| 6-12 | 2nd Quarter | Jan. 15, 2027 |
| 6-12 | 3rd Quarter | Mar. 19, 2027 |
| 6-12 | 4th Quarter | May 26, 2027 |
Source: Bismarck Public Schools official calendar.
Always double-check and verify the calendar from the official Bismarck Public Schools website before making plans, since districts sometimes adjust dates for weather or board decisions.
Download the Official Bismarck Public Schools Calendar PDF
Want the printable version for your fridge or your planner? You can download the official Bismarck Public Schools 2026-2027 calendar PDF directly from the district here:
Download the Official BPS 2026-2027 Calendar PDF
This is the same document the district publishes on its own site, so it’s the safest source if you want to print it out or save it to your phone.
See also: Bellevue School District Calendar 2026-2027 | Printable PDF
About Bismarck Public Schools
Bismarck Public Schools is the largest school district in North Dakota, serving Burleigh County. The district enrolled 13,782 students on the first day of the 2025-26 school year, spread across 18 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 3 senior high schools, along with an alternative high school, career and technical education sites, and an early childhood program. Dr. Jeff Fastnacht serves as the district’s superintendent. BPS reports a four-year graduation rate of 87%, above the state average, and all of its schools carry accreditation with commendation from the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction.
What Parents in Burleigh County Should Know This Year
A few things stand out on this year’s calendar. Winter Break is long this year, running from December 22 through January 1, which gives families a full 11-day stretch to travel or host relatives without pulling kids out of class. There are also two separate storm make-up days already built into the calendar, on March 4 and April 23, so if Burleigh County has a light winter, don’t be surprised if the district removes one or both of those later in the year. Spring break for Bismarck Public Schools in 2027 lands around Good Friday and Easter, starting March 26 and running through March 29, which is shorter than some neighboring districts’ spring breaks, so plan accordingly if you’re booking travel.
How Bismarck Compares to Neighboring Districts
Bismarck’s first day of school, August 20, 2026, lands about a week ahead of neighboring Mandan Public Schools, which starts its 2026-2027 year on August 26, 2026. Both districts sit in the Bismarck-Mandan metro area and follow similar state holiday patterns, since North Dakota districts generally observe the same Labor Day, MLK Day, and Presidents’ Day closures. If you have kids in both districts, or you’re comparing options before an interstate move within the metro, the earlier Bismarck start date is the main practical difference to plan around.
Planning a Family Trip? Best Times to Travel in Burleigh County
Winter Break is your longest window this year, 11 days from December 22 through January 1, and it’s the best stretch for a longer trip since school won’t resume until January 4 brings a staff development day before students return. Thanksgiving Break is short, just November 26 and 27, so it only works for a quick long weekend. Spring Break, tied to Easter this year, runs March 26 through March 29 and is on the shorter side, so budget it for a short getaway rather than a full week away.
See also: School Holiday List 2026–2027 USA: Complete Guide for Every Family
School Closings History in Burleigh County
Bismarck Public Schools already builds storm make-up days into its official calendar, with two set aside this year on March 4 and April 23, 2027. This is standard practice for North Dakota districts, which regularly deal with winter storms and cold snaps that can close schools for a day or more. If the district doesn’t need both make-up days for weather, they’re typically converted into extra days off, so keep an eye on district announcements as winter approaches.
FAQs
Q: When does school start for Bismarck Public Schools in 2026-2027?
A: The first day of school is August 20, 2026. Teachers report earlier, with a Teacher Work Day on August 14 and Staff Development Days from August 17 through August 19.
Q: When is the last day of school for Bismarck Public Schools?
A: The last day of school is May 26, 2027. This is also the end of the 4th Quarter for grades 6-12 and the 3rd Trimester date for grades K-5, and the day ALC and South Central High School hold graduation.
Q: When is spring break for Bismarck Public Schools in 2027?
A: Spring break falls around Easter weekend, with Good Friday on March 26 and Easter Break on March 29, 2027. There’s no full week off listed on the official calendar for spring, so don’t plan on a longer break than that.
Q: How many school days does Bismarck Public Schools have this year?
A: The official calendar lists 174 classroom instruction days for the 2026-2027 school year, which matches North Dakota’s standard requirement.
Q: Are there any school closings or delays I should know about?
A: The district has already scheduled two storm make-up days, March 4 and April 23, 2027, in case winter weather forces closures earlier in the year. Beyond those planned days, check the district’s official website or social media for real-time weather delay or closure announcements.
Final Word
Bookmark this page now so you’re not hunting for these dates again in March, which is when spring break searches spike every year. For real-time closings, delays, or last-minute calendar changes, the Bismarck Public Schools official website is always your best source. We’ll keep this page updated as the district posts any revisions, so check back if something feels off closer to a holiday or break. Between now and next August, this is the fastest way to confirm any Bismarck Public Schools Calendar 26-27 date without digging through a PDF on your phone.
The PublicSchoolsCalendar.com Team compiles and verifies public school calendar data for districts across all 50 US states, drawing on official district websites and published family calendars to keep every page accurate and up to date.
