Looking for the DC Public Schools Calendar 27-28? You’re in the right place. This guide covers every key date for District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) in Washington, DC, for the 2027-2028 academic year.
We verified this directly from the DC Public Schools official website. Every date below comes from the official SY 2027-28 calendar PDF that DCPS published. Last verified: November 8, 2026.
You’ll find the DC Public Schools Calendar 27-28 first day of school, the last day, and every holiday in between. We also cover the DC Public Schools Calendar 2027-28 Thanksgiving break, winter break, and the DC Public Schools Calendar spring break 2027-2028 dates. Need a District of Columbia Public Schools Calendar 27-28 printable copy? The official PDF download link is further down this page.
We wrote this for busy parents, teachers, and students. Short answers. Clear tables. No digging through a dense PDF.
Parents bookmark this page because it puts the whole DCPS year on one screen they can check in seconds before booking anything.
At-a-Glance Summary: DC Public Schools Calendar 2027-2028
Here’s the quick version for busy mornings.
- First day of school (Grades K–12): Monday, August 23, 2027
- First day for Pre-K (ECE): Thursday, August 26, 2027
- Last day of school: Thursday, June 15, 2028
- Total school days: 180 student days (193 teacher days)
| Summary Item | Date / Number |
|---|---|
| First Day (K–12) | August 23, 2027 (Monday) |
| First Day (Pre-K / ECE) | August 26, 2027 (Thursday) |
| Thanksgiving Break | November 24–26, 2027 |
| Winter Break | December 20–31, 2027 (Dec 20 is staff PD) |
| Spring Break | April 10–14, 2028 |
| Last Day for Students | June 15, 2028 (Thursday) |
| Planned Snow Make-Up Days | June 20–21, 2028 |
| Total Student Days | 180 |
| Total Teacher Days | 193 |
Key Dates: DC Public Schools Calendar 27-28
This is the table most parents screenshot. It covers the big breaks, the first and last days, and the staff-only days when kids stay home.
| Event | Start Date | End Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Day of School (K–12) | Aug 23, 2027 (Mon) | Aug 23, 2027 | Grades K–12 report |
| First Day for Pre-K (ECE) | Aug 26, 2027 (Thu) | Aug 26, 2027 | Pre-K students start three days later |
| Fall Long Weekend | Oct 11, 2027 (Mon) | Oct 12, 2027 (Tue) | No official fall break; Indigenous Peoples’ Day + Parent-Teacher Conference |
| Thanksgiving Break | Nov 24, 2027 (Wed) | Nov 26, 2027 (Fri) | No school for students or teachers |
| Winter Break | Dec 20, 2027 (Mon) | Dec 31, 2027 (Fri) | Dec 20 is staff PD; students off the full span |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Jan 17, 2028 (Mon) | Jan 17, 2028 | Holiday |
| Spring Break | Apr 10, 2028 (Mon) | Apr 14, 2028 (Fri) | Followed by DC Emancipation Day observed, Apr 17 |
| Teacher PD / Workdays (no students) | Aug 16, 2027 | Jun 16, 2028 | Aug 16–20, Nov 12, Dec 20, Jan 24 (half), Feb 18, Jun 16 (half) |
| State Testing Dates | Not listed | Not listed | Not on the official calendar; DCPS shares testing windows separately |
| Last Day for Students | Jun 15, 2028 (Thu) | Jun 15, 2028 | Also End of Term 4 |
| Planned Snow Make-Up Days | Jun 20, 2028 (Tue) | Jun 21, 2028 (Wed) | Used only if needed |
Source: DC Public Schools official calendar. Last verified: November 8, 2026.
DC Public Schools Calendar 2027-28 Thanksgiving Break
Students are off Wednesday, November 24 through Friday, November 26, 2027. Add the weekend and that’s five days at home. Veterans Day (Nov 11) and a staff PD day (Nov 12) also give families a four-day weekend earlier that month.
DC Public Schools Calendar 2027-28 Winter Break
Winter break runs from Monday, December 20 through Friday, December 31, 2027. December 20 is a staff PD day, so students are home from December 18 (the weekend) onward. Christmas Day is observed Friday, December 24, and New Year’s Day is observed Friday, December 31.
DC Public Schools Calendar Spring Break 2027-2028
Spring break is Monday, April 10 through Friday, April 14, 2028. Schools stay closed on Monday, April 17, for DC Emancipation Day observed. That gives students a 10-day stretch from April 8 to April 17.
Staff Start Dates (August 2027)
| Event | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| Rainbow Graduation | August 6, 2027 | Friday |
| New Educator Orientation (NEO) | August 11–13, 2027 | Wednesday–Friday |
| Professional Development (no students) | August 16–20, 2027 | Monday–Friday |
Holidays and No-School Days 2027-28
| Date | Day | Code | What It Means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 6, 2027 | Monday | HOL | Labor Day |
| Oct 11, 2027 | Monday | HOL | Indigenous Peoples’ Day; also Yom Kippur |
| Oct 12, 2027 | Tuesday | PTC | Parent-Teacher Conference, no school for students |
| Oct 29, 2027 | Friday | R/W | Half-Day Records & Wellness, no school for students (Diwali) |
| Nov 11, 2027 | Thursday | HOL | Veterans Day |
| Nov 12, 2027 | Friday | PD | Staff PD, no school for students |
| Nov 24, 2027 | Wednesday | *** | No school for students or teachers |
| Nov 25, 2027 | Thursday | HOL | Thanksgiving |
| Nov 26, 2027 | Friday | *** | No school for students or teachers |
| Dec 20, 2027 | Monday | PD | Staff PD, no school for students |
| Dec 21–23, 2027 | Tuesday–Thursday | *** | Winter Break |
| Dec 24, 2027 | Friday | HOL | Christmas Day observed |
| Dec 27–30, 2027 | Monday–Thursday | *** | Winter Break |
| Dec 31, 2027 | Friday | HOL | New Year’s Day observed |
| Jan 17, 2028 | Monday | HOL | Martin Luther King Jr. Day |
| Jan 24, 2028 | Monday | R/PD | Half-Day Records & PD, no school for students |
| Feb 17, 2028 | Thursday | PTC | Parent-Teacher Conference, no school for students |
| Feb 18, 2028 | Friday | PD | Staff PD, no school for students |
| Feb 21, 2028 | Monday | HOL | Presidents’ Day |
| Mar 31, 2028 | Friday | R/W | Half-Day Records & Wellness, no school for students |
| Apr 10–14, 2028 | Monday–Friday | *** | Spring Break |
| Apr 17, 2028 | Monday | HOL | DC Emancipation Day observed |
| May 12, 2028 | Friday | ***(W) | Wellness Day, no school for students or teachers |
| May 29, 2028 | Monday | HOL | Memorial Day |
| Jun 6, 2028 | Tuesday | *** | No school for students or teachers |
| Jun 16, 2028 | Friday | R/PD | Half-Day Records & PD, no school for students |
| Jun 19, 2028 | Monday | HOL | Juneteenth |
| Jul 4, 2028 | Tuesday | HOL | Independence Day |
Month-by-Month Breakdown
| Month | Student Days | Cumulative Student Days | Teacher Days | Cumulative Teacher Days | Key Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 2027 | 7 | 7 | 12 | 12 | NEO Aug 11–13; PD Aug 16–20; First Day Aug 23; Pre-K starts Aug 26 |
| September 2027 | 21 | 28 | 21 | 33 | Labor Day Sep 6 |
| October 2027 | 18 | 46 | 19.5 | 52.5 | Holiday Oct 11; PTC Oct 12; End of Term 1 Oct 28; R/W Oct 29 |
| November 2027 | 17 | 63 | 18 | 70.5 | Veterans Day Nov 11; PD Nov 12; Thanksgiving break Nov 24–26 |
| December 2027 | 13 | 76 | 14 | 84.5 | PD Dec 20; Winter Break Dec 21–31 |
| January 2028 | 19 | 95 | 20 | 104.5 | MLK Day Jan 17; End of Term 2 Jan 21; R/PD Jan 24 |
| February 2028 | 18 | 113 | 20 | 124.5 | PTC Feb 17; PD Feb 18; Presidents’ Day Feb 21 |
| March 2028 | 22 | 135 | 22.5 | 147 | End of Term 3 Mar 30; R/W Mar 31 |
| April 2028 | 14 | 149 | 14 | 161 | Spring Break Apr 10–14; Emancipation Day Apr 17 |
| May 2028 | 21 | 170 | 21 | 182 | Wellness Day May 12; Memorial Day May 29 |
| June 2028 | 10 | 180 | 11 | 193 | No school Jun 6; Last Day Jun 15; R/PD Jun 16; Juneteenth Jun 19; Snow days Jun 20–21 |
| July 2028 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Independence Day Jul 4 |
| August 2028 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Next school year begins |
Term Breakdown
| Term | Ends On | Instructional Days |
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | October 28, 2027 | 46 |
| Term 2 | January 21, 2028 | 44 |
| Term 3 | March 30, 2028 | 45 |
| Term 4 | June 15, 2028 | 45 |
| Total | — | 180 |
Religious Observances
On full-day observances, schools try to avoid scheduling special events, key meetings, or DCPS athletic events.
| Observance (Full Day) | Date |
|---|---|
| Rosh Hashanah (1st & 2nd Days) | Oct 2–3, 2027 |
| Yom Kippur | Oct 11, 2027 |
| Diwali | Oct 29, 2027 |
| Christmas Eve | Dec 24, 2027 |
| Christmas | Dec 25, 2027 |
| First Day of Ramadan | Jan 28, 2028 |
| Eid al-Fitr | Feb 27, 2028 |
| Ash Wednesday | Mar 1, 2028 |
| Passover (1st & 2nd Days) | Apr 10–11, 2028 |
| Good Friday | Apr 14, 2028 |
| Easter | Apr 16, 2028 |
| Eid al-Adha | May 5, 2028 |
| First Day of Muharram | May 25, 2028 |
| Ashura | Jun 4, 2028 |
Evening-only observances begin after sunset. Daytime activities go ahead, but evening events should be avoided where possible.
| Observance (Evening Only) | Date |
|---|---|
| Rosh Hashanah Begins | Oct 1, 2027 |
| Yom Kippur Begins | Oct 10, 2027 |
| Ramadan Begins | Jan 27, 2028 |
| Eid al-Fitr Begins | Feb 26, 2028 |
| Eid al-Adha Begins | May 4, 2028 |
The calendar notes that some observances, such as Eid al-Fitr, may shift based on lunar sightings.
Next School Year Preview (August 2028)
| Event | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| Rainbow Graduation | Aug 4, 2028 | Friday |
| New Educator Orientation | Aug 9–11, 2028 | Wednesday–Friday |
| Professional Development | Aug 14–18, 2028 | Monday–Friday |
| First Day of School | Aug 21, 2028 | Monday |
| First Day for Pre-K Students | Aug 24, 2028 | Thursday |
Download the District of Columbia Public Schools Calendar 27-28 Printable PDF
Want the District of Columbia Public Schools Calendar 27-28 printable version for the fridge? Grab the official one-page PDF straight from DCPS:
Download the official DCPS SY 2027-28 Calendar (PDF)
Print it, pin it, or save it to your phone.
Important: Calendars can change after publication, especially after snow closures. Always double-check dates on the official DCPS website before making plans.
See also: Klein ISD School Calendar 2027-2028 | Printable PDF
About District of Columbia Public Schools
DC Public Schools is the traditional public school system for Washington, DC. It serves more than 50,000 students across roughly 116–117 schools in all eight wards. Public charter schools are separate and set their own calendars.
DCPS is led by a Chancellor, not a superintendent. Dr. Kim Jackson became interim Chancellor in June 2026 after Dr. Lewis D. Ferebee stepped down. She is a longtime DCPS leader who served as a principal, instructional superintendent, and Chief of Schools.
The district is known for its free Pre-K program for 3- and 4-year-olds and a districtwide phone-free school day policy. DC also posted the nation’s biggest post-pandemic gains in both math and reading in a 2026 national scorecard.
What Parents in Washington, DC Should Know This Year
A few things stand out on the 2027-28 calendar.
First, Pre-K starts later. K–12 students begin Monday, August 23, 2027, but Pre-K (ECE) students start Thursday, August 26. Plan childcare for those first few days if you have a younger child.
Second, spring break is effectively longer than it looks. The official break is April 10–14, 2028, but DC Emancipation Day is observed Monday, April 17. That stretches it to a 10-day run from Saturday, April 8, through Monday, April 17.
Third, watch for single scattered days off. The Half-Day Records & Wellness day on October 29 lines up with Diwali. There’s also a Wellness Day on Friday, May 12, 2028, and no school on Tuesday, June 6, 2028.
Fourth, students finish Thursday, June 15, 2028, which is before Juneteenth on June 19. Two planned snow make-up days (June 20–21) sit after that, so don’t book early-summer flights for June 20 or 21 until winter is over.
Finally, there’s no traditional fall break. The closest thing is the October 11–12 long weekend (Indigenous Peoples’ Day plus a Parent-Teacher Conference day).
How DCPS Compares to Neighboring Districts
DCPS lines up closely with Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia for 2027-28. Fairfax also starts August 23, 2027, and shares the same Thanksgiving break (November 24–26) and spring break (April 10–14). Fairfax ends one day earlier, on June 14, 2028. Arlington Public Schools starts a full week later, on August 30, 2027. Montgomery County and Prince George’s County in Maryland had not posted approved 2027-28 calendars when we checked, so compare again once they’re out. For families with kids in DC and Fairfax schools, the matching breaks make holiday planning much easier.
See also: What Happens If School Is Cancelled Due to Weather?
Planning a Family Trip? Best Times to Travel in Washington, DC
Winter break is the longest window. Students are off from Saturday, December 18, 2027, until classes resume in January, with Christmas and New Year’s both falling inside the break.
Spring break is the next best bet. With Emancipation Day added, you get 10 straight days (April 8–17, 2028). It also overlaps Passover and Easter weekend, so book flights and hotels early.
Thanksgiving gives you five days (November 24–28, counting the weekend). For a shorter getaway, look at the four-day weekends around Veterans Day (November 11–14), Presidents’ Day (February 17–21, five days), and the October 11–12 long weekend.
Summer starts after June 15, 2028, but keep June 20–21 free in case snow make-up days are needed.
School Closings History in Washington, DC
DCPS uses traditional snow days with no virtual instruction, and DC requires at least 180 school days, so some missed days must be made up. After a January 2026 winter storm, DCPS reopened January 29, turned a March parent-teacher conference day into a class day, and pushed the last day of school to June 18, 2026. That’s why the 2027-28 calendar now builds in two planned make-up days, June 20–21, 2028.
FAQs
Q: When does school start in DC Public Schools for 2027–2028?
A: The first day of school for Grades K–12 is Monday, August 23, 2027. Pre-K (ECE) students start a few days later, on Thursday, August 26, 2027.
Q: When is the last day of school for DC Public Schools?
A: The last day for students is Thursday, June 15, 2028, which is also the end of Term 4. If snow closures pile up, DCPS has two planned make-up days on June 20–21, 2028.
Q: When is spring break for DC Public Schools in 2027-2028?
A: Spring break for the 2027-28 school year falls in 2028, from Monday, April 10 through Friday, April 14. Schools also close Monday, April 17, for DC Emancipation Day observed, so students get 10 days off in a row.
Q: How many school days does DC Public Schools have this year?
A: The 2027-28 calendar has 180 student days and 193 teacher days. The year is split into four terms of 46, 44, 45, and 45 instructional days.
Q: Are there any school closings or delays I should know about?
A: Nothing is scheduled beyond the planned no-school days in the calendar. Weather closures are announced as they happen, so check dcps.dc.gov and DCPS social channels on stormy mornings. DCPS uses traditional snow days, and any make-up days come at the end of the year.
Final Thoughts
Bookmark this page so the full DC Public Schools Calendar 27-28 is always one tap away. For real-time weather closings and delays, check the official DCPS website at dcps.dc.gov. Spring break dates get searched the most in March, so check back then before you lock in travel. Have a great school year, DC families.
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.
