The MCPS calendar 2026-2027 runs from Tuesday, August 25, 2026, to Friday, June 11, 2027, with 181 instructional days, a Monday, August 24, 2026, Student Transition Day, and up to four built-in contingency days for weather closures.
The MCPS calendar 2026-2027 is the official school-year schedule adopted by the Montgomery County Board of Education for Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) in Maryland, covering instructional days, holidays, breaks, and staff workdays from Tuesday, August 25, 2026, through Friday, June 11, 2027.
MCPS is the largest school system in Maryland, serving approximately 159,671 students across 211 schools, under Superintendent Dr. Thomas W. Taylor, who was appointed on July 1, 2024.
The Montgomery County Board of Education, chaired by Julie Yang with Grace Rivera-Oven serving as vice president, adopts a traditional calendar used by most schools and a separate innovative calendar used only by Arcola Elementary School.
This calendar does not apply to Montgomery County school districts outside Maryland, private schools in the county, or MCPS’s Head Start and pre-kindergarten programs, which sometimes follow modified start and end dates.
Table of Contents
MCPS Calendar 2026-2027 Key Dates at a Glance
The table below lists the confirmed dates from the board-adopted MCPS calendar 2026-2027, converted to full weekday format for planning accuracy.
| Event | Date(s) | Day(s) of Week | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher professional days | August 17–21, 2026 | Monday–Friday | Teacher workday |
| Student Transition Day | August 24, 2026 | Monday | Non-instructional |
| First day of school | August 25, 2026 | Tuesday | Instructional |
| Labor Day | September 7, 2026 | Monday | Federal holiday |
| Early release day | September 18, 2026 | Friday | Early release |
| Non-instructional day | September 21, 2026 | Monday | Non-instructional |
| Professional Development Day | October 16, 2026 | Friday | Teacher workday |
| Grading and Planning Day | November 2, 2026 | Monday | Non-instructional |
| Election Day closure | November 3, 2026 | Tuesday | Civic closure |
| Early release days | November 23–25, 2026 | Monday–Wednesday | Early release |
| Thanksgiving Holiday | November 26–27, 2026 | Thursday–Friday | Federal holiday |
| Early release day | December 23, 2026 | Wednesday | Early release |
| Winter Break Holiday | December 24–25, 2026 | Thursday–Friday | Holiday break |
| Non-instructional days | December 28–29, 2026 | Monday–Tuesday | Non-instructional |
| Systemwide closure | December 30–31, 2026 | Wednesday–Thursday | Systemwide closure |
| New Year’s Day | January 1, 2027 | Friday | Federal holiday |
| Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day | January 18, 2027 | Monday | Federal holiday |
| Grading and Planning Day | January 25, 2027 | Monday | Non-instructional |
| Presidents’ Day | February 15, 2027 | Monday | Federal holiday |
| Early release day | February 26, 2027 | Friday | Early release |
| Professional Development Day | March 9, 2027 | Tuesday | Teacher workday |
| Spring Break Holiday | March 26 and 29, 2027 | Friday and Monday | Holiday break |
| Non-instructional days | March 30–31, 2027 | Tuesday–Wednesday | Non-instructional |
| Systemwide closures | April 1–2, 2027 | Thursday–Friday | Systemwide closure |
| Grading and Planning Day | April 12, 2027 | Monday | Non-instructional |
| Contingency day (if needed) | April 22, 2027 | Thursday | Contingency |
| Contingency day (if needed) | May 17, 2027 | Monday | Contingency |
| Memorial Day | May 31, 2027 | Monday | Federal holiday |
| Last day of school (scheduled) | June 11, 2027 | Friday | Instructional / early release |
| Grading and Planning / contingency window | June 14–17, 2027 | Monday–Thursday | Contingency (if used) |
| Juneteenth (observed) | June 18, 2027 | Friday | Federal holiday, systemwide closure |
Note on Spring Break duration: Spring Break combines the March 26 and March 29 holiday days with the surrounding non-instructional days and systemwide closures (March 30 through April 2), producing a continuous stretch of no school from Friday, March 26, 2027, through Friday, April 2, 2027, plus the adjoining weekends.
How the MCPS Calendar 2026-2027 Was Approved and Revised
The MCPS calendar 2026-2027 went through three distinct approval stages before reaching its final form, a revision history that most calendar-summary pages omit entirely.
Original Board Approval (December 2025)
The Montgomery County Board of Education first approved the 2026-2027 academic calendar on Thursday, December 11, 2025, with classes beginning August 25 and ending June 16, 2027.
That version included 181 instructional days and four contingency days for inclement weather, two fewer contingency days than the 2025-2026 calendar.
It also set a 12-day winter break running from December 23, 2026, through January 3, 2027, and a 10-day spring break from March 26 through April 4, 2027.
Maryland State Board Resolution 26-01 and Its Effect on MCPS
The originally approved calendar was disrupted by state-level policy, not by MCPS itself. On March 24, 2026, the Maryland State Board of Education adopted Resolution 26-01 on school calendar planning and inclement weather make-up days, directing local school systems specifically for the 2026- 2027 school year.
Under the new guidance, districts could no longer extend the academic year beyond June 19 (Juneteenth), had to embed and identify make-up days throughout the school year with options in the spring semester, and had to adopt a contingency plan including three make-up days followed by virtual instruction, or six make-up days.
Superintendent Thomas Taylor described the resulting scheduling choices to the board as three “awful options,” none of which the district preferred.
Final Adjusted Calendar (April 29, 2026)
Following a districtwide survey that drew more than 30,000 responses, the Board of Education approved an adjusted calendar option on Thursday, April 29, 2026.
Families and staff preferred to maintain stability, including not starting the school year earlier in August and preserving the length of winter and spring breaks.
The final version kept Transition Day on Monday, August 24, 2026, and the first full day of school on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, with 181 instructional days and multiple built-in make-up options: spring make-up days on April 22 and May 17 if needed, and an end-of-year make-up window of June 14–16, with additional flexibility before the observed Juneteenth holiday.
This means anyone searching for “MCPS calendar 2026-2027” and finding an older cached PDF from December 2025 may see a June 16 end date rather than the corrected June 11, 2027, end date. Always verify against the April 2026 revision, not the original December 2025 approval.
MCPS Calendar 2026-2027 Month-by-Month Breakdown
August 2026
Instruction begins after a full week of teacher professional days (August 17–21, 2026). The Student Transition Day on Monday, August 24, 2026, applies specifically to students entering kindergarten, sixth grade, and ninth grade, students entering third grade at elementary schools serving only grades 3–5, and any student new to a school or new to MCPS. The first day of school for all other students is Tuesday, August 25, 2026.
September–October 2026
Labor Day (Monday, September 7, 2026) is the first federal holiday of the year. An early release day falls on Friday, September 18, 2026, and a full non-instructional day follows on Monday, September 21, 2026.
October contains one Professional Development Day, Friday, October 16, 2026, marking the end of the first marking period window for staff planning.
November–December 2026
November opens with a Grading and Planning Day (Monday, November 2, 2026) and an Election Day closure (Tuesday, November 3, 2026), since MCPS buildings serve as county polling locations. Three consecutive early release days (November 23–25, 2026) lead into the two-day Thanksgiving Holiday (Thursday–Friday, November 26–27, 2026).
December contains a short instructional stretch before Winter Break: an early release day on December 23, the two-day Winter Break Holiday on December 24–25, non-instructional days on December 28–29, and a systemwide closure on December 30–31, 2026.
January–February 2027
The new year begins with New Year’s Day (Friday, January 1, 2027), and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Monday, January 18, 2027). A Grading and Planning Day falls on Monday, January 25, 2027, closing the second marking period. February contains Presidents’ Day (Monday, February 15, 2027) and an early release day (Friday, February 26, 2027).
March–April 2027
March includes one Professional Development Day (Tuesday, March 9, 2027) before Spring Break, which spans Friday, March 26, 2027, through Friday, April 2, 2027, when weekends and adjoining non-instructional and systemwide closure days are combined.
A Grading and Planning Day on Monday, April 12, 2027, closes the third marking period. April 22, 2027 (Thursday) is designated as a potential contingency instructional day.
May–June 2027
Memorial Day falls on Monday, May 31, 2027. May 17, 2027 (Monday) is a second potential contingency day. The scheduled last day of school for students is Friday, June 11, 2027, which also functions as an early release day.
If contingency days are not needed, the school year effectively concludes that week; if make-up days are required, MCPS uses the window of Monday, June 14, through Thursday, June 17, 2027, ahead of the Juneteenth-observed systemwide closure on Friday, June 18, 2027.
MCPS Holidays, Breaks, and Non-Instructional Days 2026-2027
MCPS classifies non-school days into distinct categories rather than treating every day off as a generic “holiday,” and the category determines whether staff report to work.
Federal and State Holidays
These are systemwide closures for both students and staff: Labor Day (September 7, 2026), Thanksgiving (November 26–27, 2026), New Year’s Day (January 1, 2027), Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 18, 2027), Presidents’ Day (February 15, 2027), Memorial Day (May 31, 2027), and Juneteenth, observed Friday, June 18, 2027.
Non-Instructional and Grading Days
These days have no school for students but typically require staff attendance for grading, planning, or professional development: September 21, October 16, November 2, December 28–29, January 25, March 9, March 30–31, and April 12.
Winter Break and Spring Break Duration
Winter Break runs from December 24–25, 2026, including holiday days through the surrounding non-instructional and systemwide-closure days, resuming instruction after January 3, 2027.
Spring Break similarly runs from March 26 to March 29, 2027, including holiday days through the April 1–2, 2027, systemwide closures. In practice, both breaks function as continuous multi-day closures even though only two calendar days in each are labeled “Holiday.”
MCPS Early Release Days and Half-Day Schedule for 2026-2027
MCPS schedules five confirmed early release days in the 2026-2027 calendar: September 18, 2026; November 23, 24, and 25, 2026; December 23, 2026; and February 26, 2027, in addition to the early release built into the last day of school on June 11, 2027.
Early release primarily affects elementary and middle schools, where dismissal shifts several hours earlier to allow teacher collaboration time; families needing childcare coverage on these dates should confirm the exact dismissal time with their individual school, since MCPS does not publish one uniform early-release time across all grade bands.
MCPS Marking Periods and Grading Period Dates 2026-2027
The instructional year is divided into four marking periods (quarters), each closing on a designated Grading and Planning Day.
| Marking Period | Approximate Close Date | Non-Instructional Grading Day |
|---|---|---|
| Quarter 1 | Late October 2026 | Monday, November 2, 2026 |
| Quarter 2 | Mid-to-late January 2027 | Monday, January 25, 2027 |
| Quarter 3 | Late March 2027 | Monday, March 30 – Wednesday, March 31, 2027 |
| Quarter 4 | Early June 2027 | Monday, June 14, 2027 (or later if contingency days are used) |
Report cards are typically issued within one to two weeks of each Grading and Planning Day, though MCPS sets exact report-card distribution dates at the school level, not on the districtwide calendar.
Last Day of School for MCPS Seniors in the 2026-2027 School Year
The scheduled last day of school for MCPS seniors matches the districtwide last day of school, Friday, June 11, 2027, unless a school’s graduation ceremony or a contingency-day extension changes it.
Graduation ceremonies for MCPS high schools are typically scheduled in the final two weeks of May and the first week of June, ahead of the general student end date; MCPS publishes individual school graduation dates separately from the master calendar, so seniors and families should confirm their specific high school’s ceremony date once it is released, generally in the spring semester.
MCPS Snow Day and Contingency Day Policy for 2026-2027
Maryland law requires public school systems to hold at least 180 instructional days and a minimum of 1,170 school hours for secondary students, or 1,080 hours for elementary students, within 10 months, under Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) requirements governing the length of the school day and year.
This is a state floor, not an MCPS-specific rule, and it applies to every public school system in Maryland.
How Many Contingency Days Are Built Into the MCPS Calendar 2026-2027
The MCPS calendar 2026-2027 builds in up to four primary contingency days, plus an additional flexible make-up window, to absorb inclement-weather closures without automatically extending the school year.
This differs from the 2025-2026 calendar, which had six built-in contingency days but still required a four-day extension after a state waiver request was denied.
MCPS Calendar 2026-2027 Make-Up Day Sequence
If schools close for inclement weather, MCPS applies make-up days in this order: April 22, 2027; May 17, 2027; then June 14, 15, 16, and 17, 2027, in sequence, stopping before the Juneteenth-observed closure on June 18, 2027. This sequencing reflects Maryland State Board Resolution 26-01’s requirement that make-up days be spread across the spring semester rather than concentrated only at the end of the year.
Why Extending the School Year Is Costly
Extending the MCPS school year is not simply an administrative inconvenience. During the 2025-2026 school year, MCPS leadership noted that extending the school year costs approximately $2.1 million per additional day, disrupts summer programming for students and staff, affects camps and recreation programs, and limits the time facilities teams have for summer improvement projects.
This is why the district requested — and was denied — a waiver in February 2026 before ultimately extending the 2025-2026 school year by four instructional days, moving the last day of school to Thursday, June 25, 2026.
MCPS Calendar 2026-2027 vs. MCPS Calendar 2025-2026
The table below compares the two most recent MCPS academic calendars side by side.
| Attribute | MCPS Calendar 2025-2026 | MCPS Calendar 2026-2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Board approval date | Thursday, December 5, 2024 | Thursday, December 11, 2025 (revised April 29, 2026) |
| Student Transition Day | Monday, August 25, 2025 | Monday, August 24, 2026 |
| First day of school | Tuesday, August 26, 2025 | Tuesday, August 25, 2026 |
| Scheduled last day of school | Wednesday, June 17, 2026 | Friday, June 11, 2027 |
| Actual last day of school (after weather) | Thursday, June 25, 2026 (extended) | Not yet determined; depends on closures |
| Total instructional days (adopted) | 181 days | 181 days |
| Built-in contingency days | Six days | Four primary days, plus a flexible window |
| Winter Break span | December 24, 2025 – January 4, 2026 | December 23, 2026 – January 3, 2027 |
| Spring Break span (as originally set) | March 30 – April 6, 2026 | March 26 – April 2, 2027 |
| Mid-year calendar disruption | Yes — state waiver denied, year extended | Yes — Maryland State Board Resolution 26-01 forced a full recalculation |
Both calendars carry 181 instructional days as adopted, but the 2026-2027 calendar carries fewer built-in contingency days on paper, offset by a more distributed make-up-day structure mandated by the state.
MCPS Traditional Calendar vs. Innovative Calendar
MCPS operates two calendar tracks. The traditional calendar applies to nearly all 211 MCPS schools and contains 181 instructional days running from August to June.
The innovative calendar, used only by Arcola Elementary School, contains 206 instructional days, beginning July 6, 2026, and includes an extended break in August instead of a traditional summer break.
Families outside the Arcola Elementary boundary do not use the innovative calendar, and it does not apply to secondary schools.
How to Download, Print, and Subscribe to the MCPS Calendar 2026-2027
MCPS Calendar 2026-2027 PDF Download
- Go to the official MCPS website at montgomeryschoolsmd.org and select the “Calendar” page.
- Choose the “2026-2027 School Year Calendar” link, which lists separate traditional and innovative calendar PDFs.
- Select the traditional calendar unless your child attends Arcola Elementary School.
- Open the PDF and use your browser’s print function, selecting “Fit to page” for a single-sheet printable version.
MCPS Calendar 2026-2027 iCal Subscription Link
MCPS periodically publishes a downloadable .ics file alongside the PDF calendar on the same calendar page. To subscribe: download the .ics file, open it directly to import all dates into Outlook, Apple Calendar, or Google Calendar as a static import, or use your calendar app’s “Add by URL” subscription feature if MCPS provides a direct feed link, which keeps the calendar synced automatically if the district issues updates such as the April 2026 revision.
Frequently Asked Questions About the MCPS Calendar 2026-2027
When does the MCPS 2026-2027 school year start?
The MCPS 2026-2027 school year starts on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, for most students, following a non-instructional Student Transition Day on Monday, August 24, 2026, for students entering kindergarten, sixth grade, ninth grade, or a new school.
When is MCPS Spring Break 2027?
MCPS Spring Break 2027 runs from Friday, March 26, 2027, through the surrounding non-instructional and systemwide closure days, resuming instruction after Friday, April 2, 2027.
How many snow days does MCPS have built into the 2026-2027 calendar?
MCPS built four primary contingency days into the 2026-2027 calendar, plus an additional flexible make-up window in June, following Maryland State Board Resolution 26-01’s requirement that make-up days be distributed across the spring semester rather than added only at year’s end.
What the MCPS Calendar 2026-2027 Does Not Cover
The MCPS calendar 2026-2027 does not set individual school bell schedules, exact early-release dismissal times, or graduation ceremony dates, all of which MCPS publishes separately at the school level.
It does not apply to Arcola Elementary School, which follows the innovative calendar with a July 6, 2026, start date. It does not guarantee the last day of school will remain June 11, 2027; that date shifts forward if inclement-weather closures require use of the built-in contingency days.
It also does not cover private schools, charter programs, or school systems in neighboring counties, even though some search queries for “MCPS calendar” originate from users confusing Maryland’s Montgomery County Public Schools with the similarly named Montgomery County Public Schools in Virginia, a separate district under a different superintendent.
