If you’re a parent, teacher, or student in Fairfax County, Virginia, planning your year around the school calendar is one of the smartest things you can do. Whether you’re booking a family vacation, scheduling doctor appointments, or just trying to figure out when the kids have a day off next, having this calendar handy saves real stress. We verified this directly from the Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) official website, and every date in this guide comes straight from the 2026-2027 standard school year calendar released by the district. Bookmark this page — it’s the one stop you’ll keep coming back to all year long.
At-a-Glance Summary: FCPS 2026-2027 School Year
Before we dive into the details, here’s what every FCPS family needs to know right away.
| School Year Details | Date / Information |
|---|---|
| First Day of School | August 24, 2026 |
| Last Day of School | June 16, 2027 (Early Release — exact time set by each school) |
| New Teacher Training | August 10–13, 2026 |
| Staff Pre-Planning Workdays | August 14 and 17–21, 2026 |
| Total Instructional Quarters | Four |
| Quarter 1 Ends | October 30, 2026 |
| Quarter 2 Ends | January 28, 2027 |
| Quarter 3 Ends | April 16, 2027 |
| Quarter 4 Ends | June 16, 2027 |
| Major Upcoming Holiday | Labor Day Break |
| Holiday Dates | September 4 & 7, 2026 |
Fairfax County Public Schools is one of the largest school districts in the United States, serving more than 180,000 students across Northern Virginia. The 2026-2027 academic year is structured into four quarters, with built-in professional development days, cultural observances, and several holiday breaks throughout the year.
See also: CPS Chicago Public Schools Calendar 2026-2027 Printable PDF
Key Dates Table: FCPS Calendar 2026-2027
Below is a full, structured breakdown of every major event in the Fairfax County Public Schools 2026-27 calendar. All dates are taken directly from the official district calendar.
Source: Fairfax County Public Schools official calendar. Last verified: April 2026.
Before School Starts
| Event | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Independence Day (Observed) | July 3, 2026 | Holiday — offices/schools closed |
| New Teacher Training | August 10–13, 2026 | New staff only |
| Teacher Workday | August 14, 2026 | Staff only — no students |
| School Planning Day | August 17, 2026 | Staff only |
| Teacher Workday | August 18, 2026 | Staff only |
| Staff Development Day | August 19, 2026 | Staff only |
| Teacher Workday | August 20, 2026 | Staff only |
| School Planning Day | August 21, 2026 | Staff only |
| First Day of School | August 24, 2026 | Students report |
Fall Semester 2026
| Event | Start Date | End Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor Day Break | September 4, 2026 | September 7, 2026 | Holiday — no school |
| Rosh Hashanah Observance | September 11, 2026 (Evening) | September 13, 2026 | Religious & Cultural Observance |
| Yom Kippur | September 21, 2026 | September 21, 2026 | Holiday begins sundown 9/20 |
| Indigenous Peoples’ Day | October 12, 2026 | October 12, 2026 | Student Holiday / Staff Planning Day |
| End of First Quarter | October 30, 2026 | October 30, 2026 | 2-Hour Early Release |
| All Saints’ Day / DÃa de los Muertos Observance | November 1–2, 2026 | — | Religious & Cultural Observance |
| Student Holiday | November 2, 2026 | — | Teacher Workday for Staff |
| Election Day | November 3, 2026 | — | Student Holiday / Staff Planning Day |
| Diwali | November 8, 2026 | — | Religious & Cultural Observance |
| Thanksgiving Break | November 25, 2026 | November 27, 2026 | Holiday — no school |
| Chanukah Observance | December 4, 2026 | December 12, 2026 | Begins sundown 12/4 |
| Bodhi Day Observance | December 8, 2026 | — | Religious & Cultural Observance |
| Winter Break | December 21, 2026 | January 3, 2027 | Holiday — no school |
| Christmas | December 25, 2026 | — | Included in Winter Break |
Spring Semester 2027
| Event | Start Date | End Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | January 1, 2027 | — | Holiday — included in Winter Break |
| Three Kings Day / Epiphany Observance | January 6, 2027 | — | Religious & Cultural Observance |
| Orthodox Christmas Observance | January 7, 2027 | — | Religious & Cultural Observance |
| MLK Jr.’s Birthday | January 18, 2027 | — | Holiday — no school |
| Orthodox Epiphany Observance | January 19, 2027 | — | Religious & Cultural Observance |
| End of Second Quarter | January 28, 2027 | — | 2-Hour Early Release |
| Student Holiday | January 29, 2027 | — | Teacher Workday for Staff |
| Student Holiday | February 1, 2027 | — | Staff Development Day |
| Lunar New Year | February 6, 2027 | — | Cultural Observance |
| Ramadan Begins | February 8, 2027 | March 8, 2027 | Begins sundown 2/7 |
| Ash Wednesday | February 10, 2027 | — | Religious & Cultural Observance |
| Presidents’ Day / Washington’s Birthday | February 15, 2027 | — | Holiday — no school |
| Eid al-Fitr | March 10, 2027 | — | Holiday; begins sundown 3/9 |
| Nowruz | March 20, 2027 | — | Cultural Observance |
| Spring Break | March 22, 2027 | March 26, 2027 | Holiday — no school |
| Good Friday | March 26, 2027 | — | Included in Spring Break |
| Easter | March 28, 2027 | — | Cultural Observance |
| End of Third Quarter | April 16, 2027 | — | 2-Hour Early Release |
| Student Holiday | April 19, 2027 | — | Teacher Workday for Staff |
| Student Holiday | April 20, 2027 | — | Staff Development Day / Theravada New Year |
| Passover Begins | April 21, 2027 | April 29, 2027 | Begins sundown 4/21 |
| Orthodox Good Friday Observance | April 30, 2027 | — | Religious & Cultural Observance |
| Student Holiday / Orthodox Good Friday | April 10, 2027 | — | School Planning Day for Staff |
| Orthodox Easter | May 2, 2027 | — | Cultural Observance |
| Eid al-Adha | May 17, 2027 | — | Begins sundown 5/16 |
| Memorial Day | May 31, 2027 | — | Holiday — no school |
| Last Day of School | June 16, 2027 | — | Early Release — time set by each school |
| Staff Development Day | June 17, 2027 | — | Staff only |
| Juneteenth (Observed) | June 18, 2027 | — | Holiday |
| Teacher Workday | June 21, 2027 | — | Staff only |
Download the Official FCPS 2026-2027 Calendar (PDF)
Don’t want to rely on your phone browser all year? Smart move. The official printable PDF of the Fairfax County Public Schools 2026-2027 Standard School Year Calendar is available directly from the district’s website.
âž¡ Download the Official FCPS 2026-2027 Printable Calendar PDF here: Calendar PDF Download
Print it out and stick it on your refrigerator. Share it with your child’s teacher. Pin it to the family bulletin board. Having a physical copy on hand when you’re planning summer camps, sports schedules, or holiday travel is genuinely useful. The PDF is the same calendar officially released by FCPS and is the most reliable version to reference for accurate dates.
About Fairfax County Public Schools
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is the largest school division in Virginia and the 9th-largest in the nation, with around 199 schools and centers serving roughly 180,000–183,000 students as of the 2025-2026 school year. The division offers Advanced Academic Programs, an extensive AP and IB course catalog, and specialized centers such as the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. FCPS is led by Superintendent Dr. Michelle C. Reid, who has headed the division since July 2022. In 2026, FCPS received Regional Gold Level Baldrige recognition, becoming the first education organization to earn that honor as a first-time applicant.
What Fairfax County parents should know this year
One thing that stands out in the 2026-2027 FCPS calendar is that Spring Break falls relatively late, from March 22-26, 2027, and lands later than several neighboring divisions’ breaks. Parents should also note that the last day of school, June 16, 2027, is an Early Release day with the dismissal time set individually by each school — so don’t assume a normal full day for end-of-year pickup planning. Additionally, the calendar packs in an unusually high number of religious and cultural observance notations (from Diwali to Eid al-Fitr to Lunar New Year), several of which carry early-release or staff-planning designations, so it’s worth cross-checking these against your child’s specific school calendar for any schedule shifts.
How Fairfax County compares to neighboring districts
Compared to its neighbors, Fairfax County’s 2026-2027 calendar sits roughly in the middle. Prince William County shares the same first day of school (August 24, 2026) but ends a day later, on June 17, 2027, and gets a longer Spring Break (March 22-29, including an extra teacher workday). Loudoun County starts earlier, on August 17, 2026, finishes earlier on June 11, 2027, and takes Spring Break later in the year, April 5-9, 2027 — giving Loudoun families a full week off rather than FCPS’s five days. Overall, FCPS and Prince William track closely on start/end dates, while Loudoun’s calendar runs about a week ahead on both ends of the year.
Planning a family trip? Best times to travel in Fairfax County
For FCPS families, Winter Break is the longest stretch of the year — December 21, 2026 through January 3, 2027 (two full weeks) — and is the best window for longer trips, including international travel. Spring Break, March 22-26, 2027, is the next-best option for a shorter getaway, though keep in mind it falls during peak spring-break travel season nationally, so flight and hotel prices will be higher. Thanksgiving Break (November 25-27, 2026) is short but useful for a quick regional trip if paired with the preceding weekend.
School closings history in Fairfax County
Like most Northern Virginia districts, FCPS typically builds in a small cushion for weather-related closures, and the district has occasionally used virtual learning days in recent years instead of traditional snow days to preserve instructional time. Families should monitor fcps.edu and FCPS emergency alerts during winter months, as snow-day decisions are made in real time and aren’t reflected in the published calendar.
Quarter Structure: How the School Year Is Divided
The 2026-2027 FCPS school year is broken into four grading quarters. Here’s how they break down:
- 1st Quarter: Approximately 6 weeks — Ends October 30, 2026 (2-hour Early Release)
- 2nd Quarter: Approximately 7 weeks — Ends January 28, 2027 (2-hour Early Release)
- 3rd Quarter: Approximately 7 weeks — Ends April 16, 2027 (2-hour Early Release)
- 4th Quarter: Approximately 5 weeks — Ends June 16, 2027 (Early Release — Last Day)
Each quarter ending is an Early Release day for students. Teachers use these days for grading, planning, and professional reflection. Mark these on your personal calendar now — especially if you handle afternoon pickup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When does school start for Fairfax County Public Schools in 2026-2027?
The first day of school for students in FCPS is August 24, 2026. Before that, teachers and staff report for a week of professional workdays starting August 14. New teachers begin even earlier, with training scheduled for August 10–13.
Q: When is the last day of school for FCPS in 2026-2027?
The last day of school for students is June 16, 2027, and it is an Early Release day. The exact release time will be determined by each individual school, so check with your school directly closer to the date. Staff have additional workdays on June 17 and June 21.
Q: When is Spring Break for Fairfax County Public Schools in 2026?
Spring Break for the 2026-2027 school year falls from March 22 to March 26, 2027. Note that this is technically in 2027 since the spring semester spans into the new calendar year. Good Friday (March 26) is also included within Spring Break, and Easter falls on March 28, just after break ends.
Q: How many school days does FCPS have in the 2026-2027 year?
The school year is structured across four quarters: a 6-week first quarter, two 7-week middle quarters, and a 5-week final quarter. While the official total instructional day count should be confirmed directly on the FCPS website, the school year runs from August 24, 2026, through June 16, 2027 — approximately 180 instructional days, which is standard for Virginia public schools.
Q: Are there any school closings or unexpected delays I should know about?
The dates above reflect the planned calendar. Unplanned closings due to weather (snow days are common in Northern Virginia), emergencies, or other unforeseen events are not listed here since they happen in real time. Always check the FCPS official website at fcps.edu or sign up for FCPS emergency alerts to get notified of last-minute closings or delays. The district also communicates through local news stations and the ParentVUE portal.
A Note on Cultural and Religious Observances
One thing that sets FCPS apart is how thoughtfully the calendar acknowledges the diverse communities it serves. The 2026-2027 calendar includes observance notations for Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Diwali, Chanukah, Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Lunar New Year, Nowruz, Passover, Easter, Orthodox Christmas, and more. These dates are marked as informational observances, and some carry specific student holiday or early-release designations. Families are encouraged to communicate any observance-related absences with teachers in advance.
Final Thoughts
The Fairfax County Public Schools 2026-2027 calendar is packed — but knowing the key dates now puts you firmly in control of your family’s year. Bookmark this page so you can quickly check upcoming holidays, Early Release days, and break schedules without hunting through PDFs every time. For real-time closings, weather delays, or any last-minute updates, head directly to fcps.edu, which is always the most current source. And if you’re searching in late winter, come back in March — that’s when spring break dates become the most urgent thing on every FCPS parent’s mind. Plan, stay informed, and have a great school year.
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.