School District Calendar

California School Holidays operates the largest public school system in the United States — serving approximately 6 million students across more than 1,000 school districts. From the massive Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) — the second-largest district in the nation — to small rural districts in the Central Valley and wine country, every California district sets its own calendar within state guidelines.

In this complete guide, we cover all major California school holidays, breaks, and important dates for the 2026-2027 school year — including California’s unique state holidays like Cesar Chavez Day, Lincoln’s Birthday, and Native American Day that you won’t find on school calendars in most other states.

Important: California does not have a single statewide school calendar. Start dates, break dates, and holidays can vary significantly between districts. Always verify with your specific school district’s official website.

California School Year 2026-2027 — Key Dates Overview

California School Holidays — Detailed Guide 2026-2027

1. First Day of School 2026

California has no statewide law restricting when districts can start the school year, so first day dates vary widely. Most California districts start between August 12 and August 20, 2026. Some Central Valley and Inland Empire districts start even earlier — as early as late July.

• LAUSD (Los Angeles Unified) — August 17, 2026
• Sanger Unified School District (Fresno County) — August 19, 2026
• Santa Monica-Malibu Unified — August 20, 2026

This is in sharp contrast to New York State, where schools must start after Labor Day. California families should check their district’s specific calendar, as start dates can differ by several weeks within the same county.

2. Labor Day — September 7, 2026

Labor Day falls on Monday, September 7, 2026. All California public schools are closed. For districts that start in mid-August, this comes just a few weeks into the school year — giving students an early long weekend.

3. Native American Day — September 25, 2026

Native American Day is one of California’s most distinctive school holidays — observed on the fourth Friday of September (September 25, 2026). California replaced Columbus Day with Native American Day back in 1998 under AB 1953, making it one of the first states in the nation to make this change — more than 25 years before most other states started discussing it.

While Native American Day is an optional state holiday (not mandated for all districts), many California school districts close on this day. Families should check their specific district’s calendar to confirm.

4. Veterans Day — November 11, 2026

Veterans Day falls on Wednesday, November 11, 2026. All California public schools are closed on this federal holiday. This is one of the few mid-week holidays in the school calendar.

5. Thanksgiving Break 2026

Most California school districts observe a full Thanksgiving week off — November 23–27, 2026. The Day After Thanksgiving (November 27) is an official California state holiday — one of the few states in the US that formally puts this on the books rather than treating it as an informal day off.

6. Winter Break 2026-2027 — California’s Longest Break

Winter Break in California is typically the longest in the United States. Most districts observe Winter Break from December 21, 2026 through January 8, 2027 — nearly three full weeks off. This is significantly longer than states like Texas and Florida, which typically offer only two weeks.

• LAUSD Winter Break: December 21, 2026 – January 1, 2027 (school resumes January 4)
• Sanger Unified Winter Break: December 21, 2026 – January 9, 2027 (nearly 3 weeks)
• Santa Monica-Malibu Unified: December 21, 2026 – January 1, 2027

This extended Winter Break is one reason why California schools often end later in June compared to other states.

7. MLK Jr. Day — January 18, 2027

Martin Luther King Jr. Day falls on Monday, January 18, 2027. All California public schools are closed on this federal holiday.

8. Lincoln’s Birthday — February 12, 2027

Lincoln’s Birthday is a California state holiday observed on or near February 12 — and it is almost exclusively a California school holiday. Very few other US states give students the day off for Lincoln’s Birthday. Per the California Education Code, schools observe “the Monday or Friday of the week in which February 12 occurs.”

In 2027, Lincoln’s Birthday falls on Friday, February 12, 2027. Many California districts close on this day, giving students a four-day weekend along with Presidents’ Day (February 15) the following Monday.

9. Presidents’ Day — February 15, 2027

Presidents’ Day falls on Monday, February 15, 2027. All California public schools are closed. Combined with Lincoln’s Birthday (February 12), many California students enjoy a four-day weekend — Friday through Monday — in mid-February.

10. Cesar Chavez Day — March 2027

Cesar Chavez Day is perhaps California’s most distinctive school holiday — and one that surprises many people new to California. March 31 is designated as Cesar Chavez Day in California, honoring the legendary civil rights activist and farmworkers’ rights leader. Schools observe the nearest Monday or Friday to March 31.

In 2027, Cesar Chavez Day is observed on Friday, March 26, 2027, for LAUSD and many other districts. This often combines with Spring Break to create an extended vacation period for California students.

Cesar Chavez Day is a California state holiday unique to the state — it is not a school holiday in any other US state. It reflects California’s large Latino community and the agricultural history of the state where Chavez organized the United Farm Workers union.

11. Spring Break 2027

Spring Break in California typically falls in late March or early April. In 2026-2027, most districts observe Spring Break from March 29 through April 2, 2027. Combined with Cesar Chavez Day on March 26, many California students enjoy an extended 10-day spring vacation.

12. Memorial Day — May 31, 2027

Memorial Day falls on Monday, May 31, 2027. Most California schools will still be in session at this point, as the last day of school for most California districts is in early-to-mid June.

13. Juneteenth — June 19, 2027

Juneteenth is now a federal and California state holiday, falling on Friday, June 19, 2027. Many California school districts observe Juneteenth as a school holiday. Since it falls close to the last day of school for most California districts, it often creates an extended end-of-year break.

14. Last Day of School 2027

Because California has long Winter Breaks and multiple unique holidays, the last day of school is typically in early-to-mid June:

• LAUSD — June 3, 2027
• Sanger Unified — June 3, 2027
• Santa Monica-Malibu Unified — June 9, 2027
• Most California Districts — June 10–11, 2027

What Makes California School Holidays Unique?

Cesar Chavez Day — California Exclusive

Cesar Chavez Day (March 31, observed near that date) is a California state holiday honoring civil rights activist Cesar Chavez. California is the only US state where this is widely observed as a school holiday — making it truly California-exclusive. It reflects the state’s agricultural heritage and large Latino community.

Lincoln’s Birthday — A California Tradition

While most US states stopped observing Lincoln’s Birthday as a separate holiday decades ago, California continues to observe it as an official school holiday near February 12. Combined with Presidents’ Day, California students often enjoy a four-day February weekend that students in most other states do not get.

Native American Day Instead of Columbus Day

California replaced Columbus Day with Native American Day in 1998 — more than 25 years before most other states began making this change. It falls on the fourth Friday of September (September 25 in 2026) and honors California’s significant Native American heritage and population.

Day After Thanksgiving is an Official Holiday

In California, the Friday after Thanksgiving is an official state holiday — not just an informal day off. Most states treat Black Friday as optional, but California formally observes it, which is why virtually all California school districts close on this day.

Year-Round Schools

California has a significant number of year-round schools — particularly in high-enrollment urban areas like Los Angeles and the Inland Empire. Year-round schools operate on multi-track schedules with shorter, more frequent breaks throughout the year instead of a long summer break. If your child attends a year-round school, the calendar above does not apply — contact your school directly for specific track dates.

Longest Winter Break in the US

California’s Winter Break — often running nearly three weeks — is among the longest in the nation. This extended break is one reason California schools start earlier (mid-August) and end later (mid-June) compared to the national average.

California School Calendar 2026-2027 — By District

Here are the individual district calendar pages available on our site for California schools:

• Sanger Unified School District Calendar 2026-2027

Don’t see your district? Use our School District Calendar search to find any California school district’s calendar.

LAUSD School Calendar 2026-2027 Highlights

The Los Angeles Unified School District is the second-largest school district in the United States, serving over 400,000 students across Los Angeles. Here are the key LAUSD dates for 2026-2027:

Tips for Planning Around California School Holidays 2026-2027

• Winter Break travel — book very early: California’s nearly three-week Winter Break (December 21 – January 8) is one of the longest in the US. This means California families flood ski resorts, airports, and theme parks. Book holiday travel 4–6 months in advance.
• Spring Break + Cesar Chavez Day combo: In 2027, Cesar Chavez Day (March 26) falls on the Friday before Spring Break (March 29 – April 2), giving many California students 10 consecutive days off. Book spring travel early.
• Lincoln’s Birthday four-day weekend: February 12 (Friday) + Presidents’ Day (February 15, Monday) = a four-day weekend for most California students. Popular for ski trips to Mammoth, Big Bear, or Lake Tahoe.
• Year-round school check: If your child attends a year-round school, none of the above dates apply. Contact your school directly for track-specific calendar information.
• Wildfire/heat school closures: California schools are increasingly closing due to poor air quality from wildfires or extreme heat. These unscheduled closures can add makeup days at the end of the year, pushing the last day of school later than planned.

Frequently Asked Questions — California School Holidays 2026-2027

When does school start in California in 2026?

Most California public schools start between August 12 and August 20, 2026. There is no statewide start date law in California, so dates vary significantly by district. Some Central Valley districts start as early as late July.

When is Spring Break 2027 in California?

Most California districts observe Spring Break March 29 – April 3, 2027. LAUSD Spring Break is March 29 – April 2, 2027. Sanger Unified Spring Break is March 29 – April 5, 2027.

When is Winter Break 2026-2027 in California?

Most California districts observe Winter Break from December 21, 2026 through early January 2027 — with school resuming between January 4 and January 12, 2027. California’s Winter Break is among the longest in the United States at nearly three weeks.

Is Cesar Chavez Day a school holiday in California?

Yes — Cesar Chavez Day (March 31, observed near that date) is a California state holiday, and most California school districts close on this day. In 2027, most districts observe it on Friday, March 26, 2027. This holiday is unique to California and not observed in any other US state.

Is Lincoln’s Birthday a school holiday in California?

Yes — Lincoln’s Birthday (February 12) is an official California state school holiday, observed on the nearest Friday or Monday. In 2027, it falls on Friday, February 12, 2027. Combined with Presidents’ Day (February 15), most California students enjoy a four-day February weekend. This holiday is unique to California.

When does school end in California in 2027?

Most California public schools end between June 3 and June 11, 2027. LAUSD ends June 3, 2027. Sanger Unified ends June 3, 2027. Santa Monica-Malibu ends June 9, 2027.

What is Native American Day in California schools?

Native American Day is observed on the fourth Friday of September — September 25, 2026, in 2026-2027. California replaced Columbus Day with Native American Day in 1998, making it one of the first US states to do so. Many California districts close on this day.

Do California schools observe Lunar New Year?

California added Lunar New Year as an official state holiday in 2023. However, whether individual school districts close on Lunar New Year varies. Districts with large Asian American student populations are more likely to observe it. In 2027, Lunar New Year falls on February 17 (during Presidents’ Day week), so schools are already closed.

Disclaimer: We are an independent informational website and not affiliated with any school district or the California Department of Education (CDE). Dates on this page are based on publicly available district calendars and typical California school patterns.

Always verify exact dates with your school district’s official website before making travel or childcare plans. School calendars can change due to wildfires, heat emergencies, board decisions, or other unforeseen circumstances.