Chicago Public Schools: 2026-27 School Calendar

The first day of school for the 2026-27 school year is Monday, August 24, 2026, for students in kindergarten through 12th grade. Preschool students begin one day later on Tuesday, August 25, 2026. Both the first and last days of school are full days of instruction. Teachers and staff begin on August 17, 2026, with Professional Development Days running August 17–21.

The last day of school for K-12 students is Friday, June 11, 2027. For Preschool students, the last day is Thursday, June 10, 2027. Both are full days of instruction. A Professional Development Day for staff follows on June 14, 2027.

The 2026-27 CPS calendar includes 176 student attendance days. Students have approximately 40 scheduled non-attendance days (not including weekends): 5 pre-school-year Professional Development Days (August 17–21), 7 Professional Development Days during the school year, 2 Parent-Teacher Conference Days, 6 official holidays (Labor Day, Indigenous Peoples' Day, Election Day/Veterans Day observed, MLK Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day), a full week for Thanksgiving Break, two weeks for Winter Vacation, and one week for Spring Vacation.

In a significant change from previous years, the first semester ends after winter break in 2026-27. Students return from winter vacation on January 5, 2027, and have approximately three weeks to complete first-semester coursework and exams before the semester closes on January 22, 2027 (end of Quarter 2). This change was approved by the Chicago Board of Education in February 2026 after a survey of 22,000 respondents showed 55% preferred this structure. This means high school final exams will occur in late January rather than before winter break.

Here is the complete list of non-attendance days for students in 2026-27: August 17–21 (Professional Development Days, before school starts); September 7 (Labor Day); September 25 (Professional Development Day); October 12 (Indigenous Peoples' Day); November 2 (Parent-Teacher Conference Day); November 3 (General Election Day, observed in lieu of Veterans Day); November 11 (Professional Development Day); November 23–27 (Thanksgiving Break, full week); December 21 – January 1 (Winter Vacation, two weeks); January 4 (Professional Development Day); January 18 (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day); January 29 (Professional Development Day); February 15 (Presidents' Day); February 23 (Professional Development Day); March 22–26 (Spring Vacation, one week); April 6 (Professional Development Day); April 12 (Parent-Teacher Conference Day); May 31 (Memorial Day); June 14 (Professional Development Day, after school ends). Two additional district holidays fall after the school year ends: June 18 (Juneteenth, observed) and July 5 (Independence Day, observed).

CPS Thanksgiving Break runs the full week of November 23–27, 2026 — Monday through Friday. Combined with the surrounding weekends, students get a 9-day break. Note that November itself is packed with non-attendance days: November 2 (Parent-Teacher Conference Day), November 3 (General Election Day / Veterans Day observed), and November 11 (Professional Development Day) — leaving very few full school weeks in the month.

Winter Break (Winter Vacation) runs from Monday, December 21, 2026, through Friday, January 1, 2027 — two full weeks. Monday, January 4, 2027, is a Professional Development Day with no school for students. Students return to class on Tuesday, January 5, 2027. Note that under the new 2026-27 calendar structure, first-semester final exams take place after winter break, not before.

Spring Break (Spring Vacation) is Monday, March 22, through Friday, March 26, 2027 — a full week. Students return to school on Monday, March 29, 2027.

Veterans Day (November 11, 2026) falls on a Wednesday and is designated as a Professional Development Day — students do not attend school. The Veterans Day holiday observance is moved to Tuesday, November 3, 2026, which coincides with the General Election. Many CPS schools serve as polling locations on Election Day. So students are off both November 3 (holiday) and November 11 (Professional Development Day).

Yes. Tuesday, November 3, 2026, is a non-attendance day for students. This date serves as both the General Election Day and the observed Veterans Day holiday. Many CPS schools are used as polling locations. Students are also off November 2 (Parent-Teacher Conference Day), making the first week of November a short school week.

CPS has Professional Development (PD) days, Teacher Institute Days, and School Improvement Days throughout 2026-27 — all are non-attendance days for students. The dates during the school year are: September 25, November 11, January 4, January 29, February 23, April 6, and June 14. Additionally, five PD days occur before school starts (August 17–21). While CPS officially categorizes these into Teacher Institute Days, School Improvement Days, and Professional Development Days (4 of each), they all function as non-attendance days for students — the distinction does not affect planning.

CPS operates on a quarterly grading system. The quarter end dates for 2026-27 are: Quarter 1 ends October 23, 2026; Quarter 2 ends January 22, 2027; Quarter 3 ends April 2, 2027; and Quarter 4 ends June 11, 2027 (last day of school). Note that Quarter 2 now ends after winter break rather than before it, which is a change from prior years.

CPS has two Parent-Teacher Conference Days in 2026-27: Monday, November 2, 2026 (after Quarter 1), and Monday, April 12, 2027 (after Quarter 3). Both are non-attendance days for students. Parents and guardians are asked to meet with teachers and pick up report cards. Both elementary and high schools hold conferences on the same days.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is observed on Monday, January 18, 2027, as a district-wide holiday with no school for students or staff.

CPS prioritizes keeping schools open and snow-related closures are rare. The district works with the City of Chicago's Office of Emergency Management and Communication (OEMC) and considers factors including air temperature and wind chill, snow accumulation, road conditions, and bus safety. When closures do happen, they are announced via the CPS website (cps.edu), CPS social media (@ChiPubSchools), and local Chicago TV stations including ABC7, NBC5, CBS2, WGN9, and FOX32.

CPS charter schools are publicly funded but independently operated, and they may set their own academic calendars. Most CPS charter schools follow a schedule similar to the district calendar, but dates can differ. The district-wide CPS calendar applies to all CPS-managed schools, including neighborhood schools, selective enrollment schools, and magnet schools. Always confirm directly with your specific charter school.

School Improvement Days, Professional Development Days, and Teacher Institute Days are all non-attendance days for students. CPS uses these terms for different categories of staff training and planning days, but the key point for parents is the same: students do not attend school on any of these days. The 2026-27 calendar includes 4 Teacher Institute Days, 4 School Improvement Days, and 4 Professional Development Days.

The Chicago Board of Education approved both the 2026-27 and 2027-28 school year calendars in February 2026. The 2027-28 school year is scheduled to start on Monday, August 23, 2027, for K-12 students. The official calendar is available at cps.edu/calendar.