If you’re a parent, teacher, or student in Hillsborough County, Florida, this is your one-stop guide to the Hillsborough County Public Schools Calendar 2026-27. We verified this directly from Hillsborough County Public Schools’ official website, so you can plan vacations, doctor visits, and school breaks with confidence.
This page covers the Hillsborough County Public School Calendar 26-27, including the first day of school, last day of school, every holiday and non-student day, grading periods, and a printable PDF link straight from the district. Whether you’re searching for the Hillsborough County Public School Calendar 26 27 first day of school, looking for a Hillsborough County Public School Calendar 26 27 printable version, or trying to nail down Hillsborough County Public School District Calendar spring break 2027 dates, you’ll find it all below in simple tables.
Parents bookmark this page because school calendars change, snow days get added, and nobody wants to scroll through a 40-page PDF every time they need a quick date. We keep it short and to the point.
At-A-Glance Summary

Here’s the quick version for parents who just need the basics:
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| First day of school | Monday, August 10, 2026 |
| Last day of school | Friday, May 28, 2027 |
| Total non-student/holiday days listed | 13 separate breaks and holidays (see full table below) |
| Next upcoming holiday (from start of school) | Labor Day – Monday, September 7, 2026 |
| Winter Break | Monday, December 21, 2026 – Friday, January 1, 2027 |
| Spring Break | Monday, March 22 – Friday, March 26, 2027 |
Key Dates Table: Hillsborough County Public School District Calendar 2026-27 Template
Use this table as your go-to Hillsborough County Public School District Calendar 2026 27 template. Every date below comes straight from the official HCPS calendar.
| Event | Start Date | End Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students’ First Day of School | Monday, August 10, 2026 | — | Start of the school year |
| Labor Day / Non-Student Day | Monday, September 7, 2026 | — | No school, federal holiday |
| End of 1st Grading Period | Friday, October 9, 2026 | — | Report cards follow shortly after |
| Non-Student Day | Monday, October 12, 2026 | — | Teacher workday/planning |
| Veterans Day / Non-Student Day | Wednesday, November 11, 2026 | — | No school |
| Fall Break / Non-Student Days | Monday, November 23, 2026 | Friday, November 27, 2026 | Thanksgiving week off |
| Students Return to School | Monday, November 30, 2026 | — | Back after fall break |
| End of 2nd Grading Period / 1st Semester | Friday, December 18, 2026 | — | Semester 1 ends |
| Winter Break / Non-Student Days | Monday, December 21, 2026 | Friday, January 1, 2027 | Two full weeks off |
| Non-Student Day | Monday, January 4, 2027 | — | Teacher workday |
| Students Return to School | Tuesday, January 5, 2027 | — | Start of Semester 2 |
| Martin Luther King, Jr. / Non-Student Day | Monday, January 18, 2027 | — | No school |
| Florida State Fair / Non-Student Day | Friday, February 12, 2027 | — | Local tradition, no school |
| Presidents’ Day / Non-Student Day | Monday, February 15, 2027 | — | No school |
| Strawberry Festival / Non-Student Day | Monday, March 8, 2027* | — | Asterisk noted on official calendar |
| End of 3rd Grading Period | Friday, March 12, 2027 | — | Report cards follow |
| Spring Break / Non-Student Days | Monday, March 22, 2027 | Friday, March 26, 2027 | Full week off |
| Non-Student Day | Monday, March 29, 2027 | — | Teacher workday |
| Students Return to School | Tuesday, March 30, 2027 | — | Back from spring break |
| Non-Student Day | Friday, April 16, 2027 | — | Teacher workday/planning |
| Last Day of School / End of 4th Grading Period / 2nd Semester | Friday, May 28, 2027 | — | End of school year |
Source: Hillsborough County Public Schools official calendar.
About Hillsborough County Public Schools
Hillsborough County Public Schools is one of the largest school districts in the country, serving well over 200,000 students across more than 270 school sites, including elementary, middle, high, K-8, and charter schools. It’s the third largest district in Florida and ranks among the top ten largest in the United States. The district is led by Superintendent Van Ayres. HCPS offers a wide range of programs including Magnet schools, International Baccalaureate, Career and Technical Education, and Advanced Placement courses, giving families across Tampa and the surrounding county plenty of choice in how their kids learn.
See also: School Holiday List 2026–2027 USA: Complete Guide for Every Family
What Parents in Hillsborough County Should Know This Year
A few things stand out on this year’s calendar. First, fall break lines up directly with Thanksgiving week, so kids get Monday, November 23 through Friday, November 27, 2026 off as one continuous stretch — a full week, not just the usual Thursday-Friday. Second, winter break runs a generous two weeks, from December 21, 2026 through January 1, 2027, giving families plenty of time for holiday travel. Third, keep an eye on that asterisk next to the Strawberry Festival non-student day on Monday, March 8, 2027 — this is a long-standing local tradition tied to the Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City, and the asterisk on the official calendar usually signals it’s subject to confirmation, so double-check closer to the date. Spring break itself falls a bit later in March this year, running March 22-26, 2027, followed by an extra non-student day on March 29 before students return March 30.
How Hillsborough County Compares to Neighboring Districts
Florida districts generally follow similar patterns dictated by state law, which requires a minimum number of instructional days each year. Neighboring counties like Pinellas, Pasco, and Polk typically start their school years in the same first or second week of August and wrap up by late May, much like Hillsborough. Where districts tend to differ most is in the exact placement of teacher workdays and the timing of local festival-related closures (like Hillsborough’s Strawberry Festival day, which is unique to this area because of its tie to Plant City). If you have kids in different counties or are comparing schools before a move, it’s worth checking each district’s official calendar directly, since even a one or two day shift can affect shared custody schedules or family vacation planning.
See also: Average Number of School Days by State (2026 Data)
Planning a Family Trip? Best Times to Travel in Hillsborough County
If you’re trying to time a vacation around the school calendar, winter break is your longest window — a full two weeks from December 21, 2026 to January 1, 2027. That’s the best stretch for a longer trip without pulling kids out of class. Spring break, March 22-26, 2027, is your next best option for a shorter getaway, especially since students don’t return until March 30 due to the extra non-student day. The Thanksgiving fall break (November 23-27, 2026) is also a solid full week if you want to avoid peak winter holiday travel pricing.
School Closings History in Hillsborough County
Hillsborough County rarely sees weather-related school closures since central Florida doesn’t deal with snow, but the district has closed schools in past years for hurricanes and tropical storms, which is the more common disruption in this region. These emergency closures aren’t on the standard calendar and are announced separately by the district as conditions develop, so it’s worth following HCPS’s official alerts during hurricane season (June through November) for any unplanned closures.
Download Calendar
You can grab the Hillsborough County Public School Calendar 26-27 printable PDF directly from the district here: Official Hillsborough County Schools 2026-27 Calendar. We always recommend downloading straight from the source so you have the most current, official version saved to your phone.
FAQs
Q: When does school start in Hillsborough County for 2026-2027?
School starts on Monday, August 10, 2026. That’s the official first day of school for all students in the district.
Q: When is the last day of school for Hillsborough County?
The last day of school is Friday, May 28, 2027. This also marks the end of the 4th grading period and the 2nd semester.
Q: When is spring break for Hillsborough County in 2027?
Spring break runs from Monday, March 22, 2027 through Friday, March 26, 2027. There’s also an additional non-student day on Monday, March 29, with students returning Tuesday, March 30, 2027.
Q: How many school days does Hillsborough County have this year?
The school year runs from August 10, 2026 to May 28, 2027, with multiple breaks built in, including fall break, a two-week winter break, and spring break, plus several single-day holidays and teacher workdays throughout the year.
Q: Are there any school closings or delays I should know about?
The official calendar lists all planned non-student days and breaks above, including a noted Strawberry Festival day on March 8, 2027 marked with an asterisk on the district’s calendar. For unplanned closures, like those related to hurricanes, check the district’s official website directly for real-time updates.
Final Word
Bookmark this page now so you’ve always got the Hillsborough County school calendar handy when you need it. For real-time closings, weather alerts, or last-minute schedule changes, always check the official Hillsborough County Public Schools website directly, since that’s the source we verified every date against. If you’re specifically hunting for spring break dates, come back and check this page again in March — that’s when most parents start searching, and we’ll keep this updated with anything new the district announces.

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.



