Knox County starts early, with a half day for students on Monday, Aug 10, and ends with a half day on Wednesday, May 26. Fall break is early, Oct 5-9. Spring break is Mar 8-12, earlier than most Tennessee districts, and then students are off again Fri Mar 26 and Mon Mar 29 (Easter weekend), returning Tuesday, Mar 30. Half days for students: Aug 10, Sept 16, Nov 18, Dec 18, Jan 27, Mar 24 and May 26. Students also have Nov 3, Jan 4, Feb 15 and Apr 7 off for teacher in-service days. School is open on Veterans Day (Nov 11) and Constitution Day (Sept 17). The district says it can cancel up to 8 weather or illness days before it requires make-up days.

Schools are closed Wednesday, November 25 through Friday, November 27, and students go back Monday, November 30. Wednesday is a full day off, not a half day, so plan childcare early if you work. Earlier in the month, students are out Tuesday, November 3 for a teacher in-service day, and Wednesday, November 18 is a half day. If you’re staying in town, Zoo Knoxville and the Muse Knoxville are good picks. Dollywood and Gatlinburg are about an hour away, and their holiday lights usually start in November, but expect crowds.

Winter break runs Monday, December 21 through Friday, January 1. Monday, January 4 is a teacher in-service day, so students go back Tuesday, January 5. Friday, December 18 is a half day, and it ends the first semester. With the weekends, kids are out 17 days in a row, which is plenty of time for a road trip. If you’re staying, Market Square in downtown Knoxville usually has ice skating and lights, and the Smokies are a short drive for a cold-weather hike. Check dates and road conditions before you go.

Spring break is early in Knox County, Monday, March 8 through Friday, March 12, and students are back Monday, March 15. With the weekends, that’s nine days at home. It’s still chilly in the mountains then, so pack layers and have a rainy-day plan. Wednesday, March 24 is a half day, and then students have another long weekend, Friday, March 26 through Monday, March 29, back Tuesday, March 30. Knoxville’s Dogwood Arts Festival is in April, and wildflowers start showing up in the Smokies around then too.

Knox County has a full week of fall break, Monday, October 5 through Friday, October 9, and students are back Monday, October 12. With the weekends, that’s nine days off. It’s early in the season, so the leaves in the Smokies’ higher elevations usually just start turning, and peak color comes later in October. Ijams Nature Center in Knoxville is a good place to walk, and Dollywood runs fall events, but check their dates. The first nine-week grading period ends Friday, October 16.

The last day of school is Wednesday, May 26, 2027, and it’s a half day. Teachers have Thursday, May 27, and Memorial Day is Monday, May 31. The district can cancel up to 8 days for weather or illness before it asks for make-up days, so your summer plans are probably safe. Summer in East Tennessee is hot and humid, and the lakes, like Fort Loudoun Lake and Norris Lake, are good for a water day. Day camps at Zoo Knoxville, Ijams and the YMCA usually fill up early, so sign up as soon as you can.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is Monday, January 18, 2027, and Knox County Schools are closed. It falls after the Monday, January 4 in-service day and the January 5 return, and Wednesday, January 27 is a half day for students. If you’re looking for something to do with kids, the Beck Cultural Exchange Center in Knoxville tells the story of the area’s African American history. Check hours and special programs before you go.