Howard County Public School System Calendar 2026-2027

Ellicott City, Maryland · from the district's official calendar, checked Sep 29, 2026

• Thanksgiving break: Nov 25–27
• Winter break: Dec 24 – Jan 1
• Schools closed* – Spring Break (Offices Closed 03/26, 03/29): Mar 22–29
• 9 early release days
• 2 possible make-up days

Days off and schedule changes

Every day that changes something for families. Where it says “the district calls it”, that is the district's own wording.

• Aug 24–26 · MonNo schoolThe district calls it: “First day for pre-K/RECC students (08/27/2026)”Pre-K only
• Sep 7 · MonNo school · Labor DayThe district calls it: “Schools and offices closed*”
• Sep 21 · MonNo schoolThe district calls it: “Schools and offices closed”
• Sep 30 · WedEarly releaseThe district calls it: “Schools close 3 hours early; No half-day Pre-K/RECC – Staff Professional Learning/Workday”
• Oct 16 · FriNo schoolThe district calls it: “Schools closed for students – Staff Workday”
• Oct 28 · WedNo schoolThe district calls it: “Schools closed for students – Staff Professional Learning/Workday”
• Nov 3 · TueNo schoolThe district calls it: “Schools and offices closed*”
• Nov 23 · MonEarly releaseThe district calls it: “Schools close 3 hours early; No half-day Pre-K/RECC – ES/MS Parent/Teacher Conferences, HS Staff Professional Day”
• Nov 24 · TueEarly releaseThe district calls it: “Schools close 3 hours early; No half-day Pre-K/RECC –Parent/Teacher Conferences”
• Nov 25 · WedNo schoolThe district calls it: “Schools closed for students – Parent/Teacher Conferences”
• Nov 26–27 · ThuNo school · Thanksgiving breakThe district calls it: “Schools and offices closed*”
• Dec 9 · WedEarly releaseThe district calls it: “Schools close 3 hours early; No half-day Pre-K/RECC – Staff Professional Learning/Workday”
• Dec 24–31 · ThuNo school · Winter breakThe district calls it: “Schools closed* – Winter Break (Offices Closed 12/24, 12/25, 01/01)”
• Jan 1 · FriNo school · New Year's DayThe district calls it: “Schools closed* – Winter Break (Offices Closed 12/24, 12/25, 01/01)”
• Jan 18 · MonNo school · Martin Luther King Jr. DayThe district calls it: “Schools and offices closed*”
• Jan 19 · TueNo schoolThe district calls it: “Schools closed for students –Staff Professional Workday”
• Feb 3 · WedNo schoolThe district calls it: “Schools closed for students – Staff Professional Learning Day”
• Feb 11–12 · ThuEarly releaseThe district calls it: “Elementary schools close 3 hours early; No half-day Pre-K/RECC – ES Parent/Teacher Conferences”Pre-K–5 only
• Feb 15 · MonNo school · Presidents' DayThe district calls it: “Schools and offices closed*”
• Mar 9 · TueNo schoolThe district calls it: “Schools closed for students –Staff Professional Learning/Workday”
• Mar 22–26 · MonNo schoolThe district calls it: “Schools closed* – Spring Break (Offices Closed 03/26, 03/29)”
• Mar 29 · MonNo schoolThe district calls it: “Schools closed* – Spring Break (Offices Closed 03/26, 03/29)”
• Apr 8 · ThuEarly releaseThe district calls it: “Schools close 3 hours early; No half-day Pre-K/RECC – Staff Professional Learning/Workday”
• May 17 · MonEarly releaseThe district calls it: “Schools close 3 hours early; No half-day Pre-K/RECC – Staff Professional Learning/Workday”
• May 31 · MonNo school · Memorial DayThe district calls it: “Schools and offices closed* – Memorial Day”
• Jun 2 · WedEarly releaseThe district calls it: “Schools close 3 hours early; No half-day Pre-K/RECC – Staff Professional Learning/Workday”
• Jun 7 · MonEarly releaseThe district calls it: “Schools close 3 hours early; No half-day Pre-K/RECC – Staff Professional Workday; If inclement weather days are used, may become a full day”Possible make-up day
• Jun 8 · TueEarly releaseThe district calls it: “Schools close 3 hours early; No half-day Pre-K/RECC – Staff Professional Workday - Last Scheduled Day; If inclement weather days are used, may become a full day”Possible make-up day

The 2026-2027 school year at a glance

Other dates

Dates that do not change the school day: grading periods, report cards, orientations.

• Aug 24First day of schoolThe district calls it: “First day for K-12 students”
• Aug 27First day of school · Pre-K onlyThe district calls it: “First day for pre-K/RECC students”
• Nov 23–25Parent-teacher conferences · Pre-K–8 onlyThe district calls it: “Parent/Teacher Conferences”
• Feb 11–12Parent-teacher conferences · Pre-K–5 onlyThe district calls it: “ES Parent/Teacher Conferences”
• Jun 8Last day of schoolThe district calls it: “Last Scheduled Day”

Where these dates come from

Nearby districts

• Frederick County Public Schools (MD)First day Aug 19, 2026 · last day Jun 4, 2027
• Baltimore City Public SchoolsFirst day Aug 24, 2026 · last day Jun 11, 2027
• Anne Arundel County Public SchoolsFirst day Aug 24, 2026 · last day Jun 11, 2027
• Harford County Public SchoolsFirst day Aug 31, 2026 · last day Jun 17, 2027
• Charles County Public SchoolsFirst day Aug 24, 2026 · last day Jun 9, 2027
• Carroll County Public SchoolsFirst day Aug 31, 2026 · last day Jun 11, 2027

Howard County Public School System 2026-2027 · checked Sep 29, 2026 · confirm with the district · source: https://www.hcpss.org/f/news/calendars/datesonly202627.pdf