Illinois school calendar 2026–2027

Illinois at a glance

First day of school Aug 24, 2026 Chicago

Last day of school Jun 11, 2027 Chicago

Spring break Mar 22 – 26, 2027 Chicago

Districts tracked 1 with an official calendar

The 2026–2027 year in Illinois

Chicago is the district we track in Illinois — third-largest district in the country. On its official calendar, classes start on August 24, 2026, winter break runs Dec 21, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027, spring break runs March 22 – 26, 2027, the last day is June 11, 2027.

The district summarises the year as follows: “School starts August 24, 2026; winter break runs December 21 to January 1; spring break runs March 22–26, 2027; the last day is June 11, 2027.” Every one of those dates is copied from the district page, which is linked in the table below with the date it was checked.

Other districts in the state set their own dates, so treat this as one verified example rather than a statewide rule. Confirm with your own district before booking travel.

Where Illinois 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 Illinois, the earliest first day among the districts we track is August 24, 2026 at Chicago, and the latest last day is June 11, 2027 at Chicago. 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
Chicago Third-largest district in the country · Verified Nov 2, 2026	Aug 24, 2026	Dec 21 – Jan 1, 2027	Mar 22 – 26, 2027	Jun 11, 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 Illinois

Illinois has one of the most fragmented school systems in the country, from Chicago Public Schools down to districts running a single building. Illinois also sets a minimum number of attendance days that districts must reach.

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 Illinois 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.

Chicago 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 Illinois in 2026?

There is no single statewide start date. Among the districts we track, classes begin with Chicago on August 24, 2026.

When is spring break in Illinois?

Spring break is set district by district, so it is not one week across the whole state. The districts we track break as follows: Chicago March 22 – 26, 2027.

When is the last day of school in Illinois?

Among the districts we track, the school year ends with Chicago on June 11, 2027.

Do schools in Illinois 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 Illinois districts does this site track?

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

Where do the Illinois 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.