Prince William County Public Schools invites families, staff, students, and community members to help shape the 2026-27 school calendar through the annual school calendar survey. Your input will help ensure that our school calendar reflects the priorities of our families, staff, and community. The calendar survey is open now through Friday, October 17.

The calendar options were shaped by input from parents, teachers, principals, support staff, central office leaders, and community partners who participated in the various stakeholder committees and feedback opportunities. Together, we have worked to create calendar options that support learning, family needs, staff planning, and the needs of our diverse community.

In November, your feedback will be presented to the School Board for review. The final decision regarding the school calendar is expected to be made during the School Board meeting scheduled for December 3.

Don’t miss this opportunity to share your voice on the 2026-27 school calendar. The deadline for completing the survey is Friday, October 17.

Complete the 2026-27 calendar survey.

Learn more about the calendar options and how they were developed:

2026-27 School Calendar Options

Here’s a quick look at key dates across the four calendar options.

Key Dates 2026-27
Option A		 2026-27
Option B		 2026-27
Option C		 2026-27
Option D
Teachers Report August 17
(Monday)		 August 17
(Monday)		 August 17
(Monday)		 August 17
(Monday)
First Day of School August 24
(Monday)		 August 25
(Tuesday)		 August 24
(Monday)		 August 25
(Tuesday)
Winter Break December 21 – January 1
(Monday – Friday)		 December 21 – January 1
(Monday – Friday)		 December 23 – January 1
(Wednesday – Friday)		 December 23 – January 1
(Wednesday – Friday)
Spring Break March 22-26
(Monday – Friday)		 March 22-26
(Monday – Friday)		 March 22-26
(Monday – Friday)		 March 22-26
(Monday – Friday)
Last Day of School June 17
(Thursday)		 June 17
(Thursday)		 June 15
(Tuesday)		 June 15
(Tuesday)
Last Day for Teachers June 21
(Monday)		 June 21
(Monday)		 June 16
(Wednesday)		 June 16
(Wednesday)

View printable versions of the 2026-27 calendar options:

  • 2026-27 Option A
  • 2026-27 Option B
  • 2026-27 Option C
  • 2026-27 Option D

Comparison of School Calendars for the 2026-27 School Year

To help families, staff, and the community understand the options better, we created this comparison with surrounding school calendars.

Total/Key Dates Prince William County Fairfax County Loudoun County Manassas City Stafford County
Student School Days 180 180 180 180 173
Teachers Workdays 195 195 197 200 200
Teacher Workday Hours 7 hours 7.5 hours 7.5 hours 8 hours 7.5 hours
New Educator Induction Aug TBD (2 days) Aug 10-13 N/A July 28-31 July 27-31
PD Days, Workdays, Conference Days
  • Oct 12
  • Nov 2, 3
  • Apr TBD
  • Jan TBD
  • June TBD
  • Oct 12
  • Nov 2, 3
  • Feb 1
  • Apr 19, 20, 30
  • June 21, 22
  • Oct 29, 30
  • Nov 2, 3
  • Jan 25
  • Mar 8
  • Apr 12
  • June 14, 15
  • Oct 2
  • Nov 2, 3
  • Jan 8
  • Feb 1
  • Apr 19
  • 7 early releases for PD
  • Oct 12, 19
  • Jan 4, 5
  • Feb 12
  • Mar 29
  • May 27
Preservice PD/Workdays Aug TBD (5 or 6 days) Aug 14-21 Aug 10-14 Aug 3-7, 10, 11 Aug 3-7, 10
First Day for Students TBD Aug 24 Aug 17 Aug 12 Aug 12
Labor Day Sept 4, 7 Sept 4, 7 Sept 4, 7 Sept 4, 7 Sept 4, 7
Rosh Hashana Sept 11
Yom Kippur Sept 21 Sept 21 Sept 21 Sept 21 Sept 21
Indigenous Peoples Day / Columbus Day PD day   Oct 12
Election Day Nov 3 (workday) Nov 3
Diwali   Nov 9
Veterans Day Nov 11 Nov 11 Nov 11 Nov 11 Nov 11
Thanksgiving Break Nov 25-27 Nov 25-27 Nov 25-27 Nov 25-27 Nov 25-27
Winter Break TBD Dec 21 – Jan 1​ Dec 21 – Jan 1 Dec 21 – Jan 1​ Dec 21 – Jan 1
Martin Luther King Jr. Day Jan 18 Jan 18 Jan 18 Jan 18 Jan 18
Lunar New Year Feb 5
Presidents Day Feb 15 Feb 15 Feb 15 Feb 15 Feb 15
Eid al-Fitr Mar 10 Mar 10 Mar 9 Mar 10 Mar 10
Spring Break Mar 22-26 Mar 22-26 Mar 22-26 Mar 29 – Apr 2 Mar 22-26
Eid al-Adha May 17 May 17 May 17
Memorial Day May 31 May 31 May 31 May 31 May 31
Last Day for Students TBD June 17 June 11 June 4 May 26
Juneteenth June 18 June 18 June 18 June 18 June 18

How the Calendar Options Were Developed

In August 2024, a calendar committee was established to identify priorities for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 instructional calendars.

This effort brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, ensuring that voices from all corners of the PWCS community were heard.

  • Parents and guardians
  • Teachers
  • Support staff members
  • School principals
  • Students
  • Community partners

This collaborative process included two in-person calendar committee meetings, and presentations to the Superintendent’s Advisory Council on Instruction and Superintendent’s Principal Advisory Council.

In total, more than 150 PWCS community members were invited to share their priorities for the school calendar and provide feedback on possible instructional calendars.

Each of the school calendar options reflects:

  • PWCS’ commitment to learning and achievement for all students and a positive climate and culture for our entire community
  • The collective voices and perspectives of parents, students, and staff
  • Requirements from the Virginia Department of Education

We appreciate the time and ideas shared by every PWCS community member who participated in the process of drafting the calendar options.

Calendar committee members discussing the instructional calendar
Calendar committee members discussing the instructional calendar
Members of the Superintendent's Advisory Council on Instruction discussing the instructional calendar