Washington, D.C. planning guide

District of Columbia School Breaks 2026

Washington, D.C. does not have one calendar for every public school. DC Public Schools is one large traditional district, and the city is also home to many public charter schools that set their own calendars. Many D.C. students get a winter break around Christmas and New Year's Day, a spring break in March or April, a Thanksgiving break in late November, and a summer break that runs from June into late summer. Exact dates vary by school.

Accuracy note: The patterns on this page describe what is typical for Washington, D.C., not confirmed dates for any particular school. DC Public Schools and individual public charter schools each publish their own calendars, and private and parochial schools set theirs separately. Always confirm exact dates with your own school or district before booking travel or child care.

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Washington, D.C. school break overview

One city, many school calendars

The District of Columbia is a single city rather than a state, but its public schools are not all on the same calendar. DC Public Schools is one large traditional district, and alongside it the city has many public charter schools. Charter schools are public schools that operate independently, and each can set its own calendar. Some follow patterns similar to the traditional district, while others have different start dates, end dates and break weeks.

For families, that means two children in the same neighborhood can have different weeks off if they attend different kinds of schools. Private and parochial schools are another group, and their calendars often differ from both. Always use the calendar for the specific school your child attends.

How to find your D.C. school calendar

Check directly with your child’s school or district for the calendar that applies.

• Search for your school name plus "school calendar" and use the school’s own website.
• For a DC Public Schools school, look for the district calendar on the DCPS site and check whether your school has any variations.
• For a public charter school, look for the school’s own calendar page or family handbook, because charter schools publish separate calendars.
• For a private or parochial school, check the school’s own website or ask the front office.
• Confirm the school year printed at the top and keep an eye out for updates during the year.
• Use the school breaks calendar for general patterns before you look up your school.

D.C. holidays, federal holidays and long weekends

As the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. observes the federal holidays that schools commonly follow, and it also has local observances. Emancipation Day, a D.C. holiday in April, is one example, and whether a particular school closes for it can depend on the calendar. Because the details differ by school, check your calendar rather than assuming.

• New Year’s Day is usually part of winter break.
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Presidents’ Day are observed by many schools.
• Memorial Day, Juneteenth and Independence Day matter mostly near the end of the school year or in summer.
• Labor Day often marks the start of the new school year or falls just after it.
• Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples’ Day and Veterans Day are treated differently by different schools.
• Thanksgiving and Christmas anchor the November and December closures.

See federal holidays for how national observances typically affect schools, and the U.S. school year guide for context.

Spring break and cherry blossom season

Washington, D.C. is famous for its cherry blossoms, which typically bloom in spring and draw many visitors. Spring break for some D.C. schools falls around that time, so the city can feel crowded, and hotels and transportation can be busy. If your family stays in town, plan museum visits and outdoor activities with crowds in mind. If you travel, remember that families from other states may be visiting D.C. during their own spring breaks.

The timing of cherry blossom bloom varies from year to year with the weather, so do not plan around a fixed date. Check your school calendar and the local bloom forecast closer to spring. For broader patterns, see spring break by state.

Commuter families and the D.C. region

Many families in the Washington area live in one jurisdiction and work in another, or send children to school in a different place from where they live. Maryland and Virginia districts publish their own calendars, which can differ from D.C. schools. If you have children in more than one school system, compare calendars to see where breaks overlap and where they do not. See Maryland school breaks and Virginia school breaks for the regional picture.

Public transit, school bus service and activity schedules may also change around breaks, so check with your school for details. Families who rely on before-care or after-care programs should ask whether those programs run on days when classes are not in session, since the answer can differ from school to school.

Planning for parents

• Identify whether your child’s school is a traditional district school, a public charter school or a private school before searching for a calendar.
• Plan for early release days and professional development days, which can affect working families as much as full breaks.
• Register early for camps and programs in the summer and in spring break week.
• If you have children in different schools, keep a shared family calendar with each school’s breaks.

Planning for teachers

• Use your own school’s calendar for pacing guides, since district and charter calendars may differ.
• Track professional development and conference days separately from student breaks.
• If you live in Maryland or Virginia and teach in D.C., compare your own children’s calendars with your work schedule before booking travel.

Family travel in and around D.C.

• Spring is a busy visitor season because of the cherry blossoms, school groups and tour traffic.
• Summer brings heat and tourism, so plan outdoor activities for mornings and book lodging early.
• Thanksgiving and winter break travel can be busy at area airports and train stations, so book early.
• The region has museums, monuments and parks that many families enjoy during breaks, but check hours and any timed entry requirements before you go.

Washington, D.C. School Breaks FAQ