School starts August 10, which is earlier than a lot of North Carolina districts. Semester 1 ends December 18, before winter break. The snow make-up days (Dec 21-22, Jan 4, Feb 15 and May 24-28) are listed as days off now but could turn into school days if the district uses them.

Thanksgiving break is Wednesday, November 25 through Friday, November 27, 2026. Students are in school Monday and Tuesday that week and come back Monday, November 30. Kaleideum is a good choice for a rainy day, and it has two locations, downtown and north.

Winter break runs December 21, 2026 through January 4, 2027, and students go back Tuesday, January 5. Semester 1 ends December 18, so exams are done before the break starts. Keep in mind December 21, 22 and January 4 are snow make-up days, so they could turn into school days. Tanglewood Park’s Festival of Lights is a drive-through light show that usually runs from late November into January, so check the dates before you go.

Spring break is March 26 to April 2, 2027, and kids are back Monday, April 5. With the weekends that’s ten days at home. Reynolda Gardens is free and nice that time of year. If you want a day trip, Hanging Rock State Park has waterfalls and Pilot Mountain has a big view from the top. Both are about 30 to 45 minutes away.

There’s no fall break here. The closest thing is October 12, a teacher day, which makes a three-day weekend after the end of the first quarter on October 9. Fall is a good time for leaves at Pilot Mountain or Hanging Rock.

The last day of school is May 21, 2027. May 24 to 28 are listed as snow make-up days, so don’t book anything non-refundable that week. Memorial Day is May 31. Salem Lake is an easy summer spot, and so is a Winston-Salem Dash baseball game.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is Monday, January 18, 2027. No school.