California school calendar 2026–2027

California at a glance

First day of school Aug 10, 2026 San Diego Unified

Last day of school Jun 4, 2027 Los Angeles Unified

Spring break (earliest) Mar 22 – 26, 2027 Los Angeles Unified

Districts tracked 2 with an official calendar

How the 2026–2027 year differs across California

School dates in California are not set at state level. Among the districts we track, San Diego Unified goes back first, on August 10, 2026, while Los Angeles Unified starts on August 12, 2026 — a gap of 2 days.

Spring break is just as uneven: it runs March 22 – 26, 2027 in Los Angeles Unified and Mar 29, 2027 – Apr 2, 2027 in San Diego Unified. Always check your own district’s calendar rather than a state-wide one before booking travel.

Where California sits among the states we cover

Across the 11 districts we track nationwide, the first day ranges from August 10, 2026 at San Diego Unified to September 10, 2026 at New York City. The last day ranges from May 26, 2027 at San Diego Unified to June 28, 2027 at New York City.

In California, the earliest first day among the districts we track is August 10, 2026 at San Diego Unified, and the latest last day is June 4, 2027 at Los Angeles Unified. A date that is early in one state can be late in another, which is why a national “back to school” date does not exist.

Districts we track: 2026–2027 dates

District	First day	Winter break	Spring break	Last day
Los Angeles Unified Second-largest district in the country · Verified Nov 2, 2026	Aug 12, 2026	Dec 21 – Jan 8, 2027	Mar 22 – 26, 2027	Jun 4, 2027
San Diego Unified Second-largest district in California · Verified Nov 3, 2026	Aug 10, 2026	Dec 21 – Jan 1, 2027	Mar 29 – Apr 2, 2027	May 26, 2027

Every date comes from the district’s official calendar. Open a district for the source link, the full event list and the ICS download.

How schools are organised in California

California enrols more public school students than any other state. Its districts range from the Los Angeles Unified mega-district to small rural districts, and each one publishes a calendar that can differ by weeks from its neighbour.

Federal holidays

Full calendar

Date	Holiday
January 1, 2026	New Year’s Day
January 19, 2026	Martin Luther King Jr. Day
February 16, 2026	Washington’s Birthday
May 25, 2026	Memorial Day
June 19, 2026	Juneteenth
July 3, 2026	Independence Day (observed)
September 7, 2026	Labor Day
October 12, 2026	Columbus Day
November 11, 2026	Veterans Day
November 26, 2026	Thanksgiving Day
December 25, 2026	Christmas Day

These holidays are federal. Schools in the state follow their own calendars: a federal holiday can be a school day.

Federal holidays vs California school closures

All federal holidays

Only federal holidays that fall between the first and last day of school are compared. A district can also close on days that are not federal holidays.

Los Angeles Unified 8 of 9 federal holidays listed as closures

Not listed as closures: Columbus Day — Oct 12, 2026.

San Diego Unified 9 of 9 federal holidays listed as closures

Every federal holiday in that window appears on the district calendar.

Exams

The SAT and ACT run on national dates, not state ones. See the full SAT and ACT 2026–2027 calendar for every session, registration deadline and score release.

Frequently asked questions

When does school start in California in 2026?

There is no single statewide start date. Among the districts we track, classes begin with Los Angeles Unified on August 12, 2026 and San Diego Unified on August 10, 2026.

When is spring break in California?

Spring break is set district by district, so it is not one week across the whole state. The districts we track break as follows: Los Angeles Unified March 22 – 26, 2027 and San Diego Unified Mar 29, 2027 – Apr 2, 2027.

When is the last day of school in California?

Among the districts we track, the school year ends with Los Angeles Unified on June 4, 2027 and San Diego Unified on May 26, 2027.

Do schools in California close on federal holidays?

Not automatically. Federal holidays close government offices and banks, but each district decides whether to take the day off. This page lists the federal holidays and the district calendars separately so you can see where they line up.

Which California districts does this site track?

We publish verified calendars for Los Angeles Unified and San Diego Unified. Every date comes from the district’s official calendar, shown with its source link and the date it was last checked.

Where do the California dates come from?

They come from each district’s official calendar page. We copy the dates, keep the source and show the verification date. Nothing is estimated: a district whose calendar has not been checked shows no dates.