Hamilton County starts early, on Wednesday, Aug 5, and ends Wednesday, May 19. Students are off for a full week of fall break, Oct 12-16. The district adds a professional development day with no students after most breaks, so kids actually go back Tue Oct 20 after fall break, Tue Dec 1 after Thanksgiving, Wed Jan 6 after winter break (Jan 4 and 5 are both PD days), and Tue Mar 30 after spring break. Good Friday (Mar 26) is a separate holiday, right after spring break (Mar 22-25), so that’s nine days at home with the weekends. Quarters end Oct 9, Dec 18, Mar 12 and May 19. The calendar also marks some early-release half days, so check it before you plan afternoon appointments.

Students are out Wednesday, November 25 through Friday, November 27, and Monday, November 30 is a professional development day, so they don’t go back until Tuesday, December 1. That’s a lot of people’s first surprise, so plan childcare for the Monday. If you’re staying in town, the Tennessee Aquarium is a good pick on a cold day, and the Walnut Street Bridge downtown is a nice walk. Rock City’s holiday light show usually starts around then, but check their dates and tickets before you go.

Winter break runs Monday, December 21 through Friday, January 1. Then Monday, January 4 and Tuesday, January 5 are both professional development days, so students go back Wednesday, January 6. With the weekends, that’s 17 days off in a row, more than most families expect. Ruby Falls, the underground waterfall, is a good cold-weather outing, and it’s about the same temperature inside all year. If you’re traveling, the Smokies are about two hours away. Check road conditions in case of ice.

Spring break is Monday, March 22 through Thursday, March 25, and Friday, March 26 is Good Friday, so it’s one long week off. Then Monday, March 29 is a professional development day, and students return Tuesday, March 30. With the weekends, that’s 10 days. Spring storms are a real thing in this part of Tennessee, so keep the weather alerts on if you’re driving. If you stay home, Lookout Mountain, the Incline Railway and the Chattanooga Zoo are all easy day trips.

Hamilton County has a full week of fall break, Monday, October 12 through Friday, October 16. Monday, October 19 is a professional development day, so students go back Tuesday, October 20. That’s 10 days at home with the weekends, and the first quarter ended Friday, October 9, so it’s a natural reset. It’s a nice time to go up Lookout Mountain for the leaves, or to the Smokies, which are about two hours away. Weekends in the Smokies can be crowded, so go on a weekday if you can.

The last day of school is Wednesday, May 19, 2027, and Thursday, May 20 is an in-service day for teachers. That’s early, so camps and summer jobs can start in late May. Memorial Day is Monday, May 31. Chattanooga summers are hot and humid, so plan outdoor stuff for the morning. Lake Chickamauga and Chester Frost Park are good for a water day, and the fountains at Coolidge Park are a free way to cool off. Day camps at the Tennessee Aquarium, the zoo and the YMCA fill up early, so sign up soon.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is Monday, January 18, 2027, and schools are closed. It comes two weeks after the January 4 and 5 professional development days, so for a lot of families it’s the first normal week of the new year. If you want something to do with older kids, the Chattanooga African American Museum at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center is worth a visit. Check hours and any MLK Day programs before you go.