California School Calendar 2026-2027
California public schools are run by local school districts, and the California Department of Education sets the bigger rules. There are over a thousand districts, so every one has its own calendar. A school in San Diego can be off on a different week than one in Sacramento. In LAUSD, school starts on 12-08-2026 and the last day is 10-06-2027. Most kids go TK or kindergarten through 12th grade. Parents can use the district portal for grades and attendance, join the PTA, or go to board meetings. Check your own district’s website before booking anything.
California doesn't have one statewide first day. Each district sets its own calendar.
Fresno Unified School District starts August 12, 2026 and ends June 10, 2027.
Official calendar ↗ — Checked on October 19, 2026. District only.
Print planning kit
Print or save the California school calendar as a PDF
Print the same planning windows, district summaries and sources shown on this page. In the print dialog, choose Save as PDF if you want a digital copy.
Tip: turn off browser headers and footers in the print dialog for the cleanest PDF.
California School Holidays 2026-2027
These are planning months, not official school-closure dates. The named district examples below provide the exact local dates.
| Holiday / break | Planning window |
|---|---|
| Labor Day | September 7, 2026 |
| Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples Day | October 12, 2026 |
| Veterans Day | November 11, 2026 |
| Thanksgiving Break | November 25–27, 2026 |
| Winter Break | December 21, 2026 – January 2, 2027 |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | January 18, 2027 |
| Presidents Day | February 15, 2027 |
| Spring Break | March 29 – April 2, 2027 |
| Memorial Day | May 31, 2027 |
A quick note for families
About Thanksgiving Break
The kids are off from 23-11-2026 to 27-11-2026, a full week. California weather is usually nice enough to be outside. Take the kids to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, or drive down the coast to San Diego and spend a day at the zoo. If you’re staying home, a long walk on the beach after dinner beats sitting on the couch. Book early, since hotels fill up fast during this week.
About Winter Break
Winter break runs from 21-12-2026 to 08-01-2027, almost three weeks, so there’s time for a real trip. Lake Tahoe or Big Bear are good if the kids want snow. For something warmer, try Disneyland on a weekday, or look at the lights in San Francisco and Balboa Park. Rainy days are good for museums, like the Exploratorium or the California Science Center. Keep the last weekend free so everyone can get back into a school routine.
About Spring Break
Spring break is 29-03-2027 to 02-04-2027, right when the hills go green and the wildflowers bloom. Go to Anza-Borrego or the Poppy Reserve, camp at Joshua Tree, or just hit the beach. Yosemite waterfalls are at their strongest in spring, but reserve your spot well ahead of time.
Major California districts to check
Use these local sources when your city or county calendar matters.
Fresno Unified School District
Fresno
Long Beach Unified School District
Long Beach
Los Angeles Unified School District
Los Angeles
Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) is the largest school district in California and…
San Diego Unified School District
San Diego
San Diego Unified School District is one of the largest public school districts in…
What to compare on district calendars
Related planning guides
Plan beyond the California calendar
School Holidays 2026-2027
Compare California school holidays with all states
Winter break and holiday comparison
Spring Break 2027
Find California spring break context
Named district examples and spring planning windows
First Day of School 2026
Compare California first day of school
Compare district-specific school starts
Official Sources
Check California official source context
Source tracker and verification notes
Compare States
Compare California with other states
First day, last day, breaks, and instruction time
Printable Planning
Print and annotate the California calendar
Use the state page with your district calendar
How we verify California dates
We do not use automated tools or AI to generate these dates. A real person on our team checks the official California Department of Education website and cross-references the largest districts to find the most common dates. For the 2026–2027 year, most California students start around August 12, 2026, finish around June 10, 2027, and take spring break around March 29 – April 2, 2027. These are reference dates, not statewide mandates. We last checked this page on October 19, 2026.
Check the official California website →Verified district examples: winter and spring break
These 2026-2027 dates apply only to the named school systems, not their entire states. Winter here means the December–January recess, not a separate February break.
Fresno Unified School District
Winter: December 21, 2026 – January 1, 2027
Spring: March 29 – April 2, 2027
Check your specific school's calendar for any additional staff-only or make-up days.
Check this district's official calendarLong Beach Unified School District
Winter: December 21, 2026 – January 1, 2027
Spring: March 29 – April 2, 2027
Check your specific school's calendar for any additional staff-only or make-up days.
Check this district's official calendarLos Angeles Unified School District
Winter: December 21, 2026 – January 8, 2027
Spring: March 29 – April 2, 2027
Check your specific school's calendar for any additional staff-only or make-up days.
Check this district's official calendarSan Diego Unified School District
Winter: December 21, 2026 – January 1, 2027
Spring: March 29 – April 2, 2027
Check your specific school's calendar for any additional staff-only or make-up days.
Check this district's official calendarFrequently Asked Questions
When does school start in California for 2026-2027?
California does not have a single statewide first day. The largest district, Fresno Unified School District, starts on August 12, 2026. Other districts may set different start dates.
When is spring break in California in 2027?
Spring break dates vary by district. Fresno Unified School District has spring break starting around March 29 – April 2, 2027. Always check your local school calendar.
When is the last day of school in California in 2027?
Fresno Unified School District finishes the school year on June 10, 2027. Other districts may finish earlier or later depending on snow days and local rules.
When is winter break in California for 2026-2027?
Winter break usually spans December and January. For Fresno Unified School District, the break is from December 21, 2026 – January 2, 2027. Check your school for specific exceptions.
Where can I find my California district's complete calendar?
Use the official district directory on this page. You can click on any district above to see its detailed page with exact dates and source links.
Official source tracker
How to verify California school calendar dates
This California page provides planning months and a district directory. Exact dates apply only to the named districts, not every school in the state. Use your school's calendar for attendance, teacher workdays and make-up days before booking travel or childcare.
2026–2027 instructional calendar. Checked on October 19, 2026.
The district attachment supplies the named dates. The state education reference is an overview, not a statewide calendar.