Howard County Public School System Calendar 2026-2027
Complete holiday schedule and key dates for Howard County Public School System for the 2026-2027 academic year.
Key Dates
| Event | Date(s) | Status |
|---|---|---|
| First Day of School | August 24, 2026 (Mon) | School Opens |
| Labor Day | September 7, 2026 (Mon) | No School |
| Yom Kippur | September 21, 2026 (Mon) | No School |
| Student Holiday | October 16, 2026 (Fri) | No School |
| Student Holiday | October 28, 2026 (Wed) | No School |
| Election Day | November 3, 2026 (Tue) | No School |
| Thanksgiving Break | November 25, 2026 - November 27, 2026 | No School |
| Winter Break | December 24, 2026 - January 1, 2027 | No School |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | January 18, 2027 (Mon) | No School |
| Student Holiday | January 19, 2027 (Tue) | No School |
| Student Holiday | February 3, 2027 (Wed) | No School |
| Presidents' Day | February 15, 2027 (Mon) | No School |
| Student Holiday | March 9, 2027 (Tue) | No School |
| Spring Break | March 22, 2027 - March 29, 2027 | No School |
| Memorial Day | May 31, 2027 (Mon) | No School |
| Last Day of School | June 8, 2027 (Tue) | School Closes |
Monthly Calendar MarylandSchoolCalendar.com
View the full 2026-2027 school year by month.
Calendar Notes
Howard County starts K-12 students on August 24, 2026, matching the early central Maryland start used by Baltimore City and Anne Arundel for major student groups. Pre-K and RECC students begin later on August 27, so families with younger children should not assume the K-12 opening date applies to every program. Compared with Baltimore County and Harford, which start students on August 31 in the current data, Howard families move back into school routines one week earlier.
Howard's calendar has a heavy early-dismissal footprint. Three-hour early dismissals appear on September 30, November 23, November 24, December 9, January 14, January 15, April 8, May 17, June 2, June 7, and June 8. The November 23-24 early dismissals sit immediately before Thanksgiving break, so that week can be difficult for full-day child care even though the formal break is November 25-27.
The end-of-year language is more nuanced than a simple June 8 last day. June 7 and June 8 are scheduled as three-hour early dismissal days but may become full days if inclement weather days are used. June 9-11 may then be used as make-up days. Spring break runs March 22-29, matching Baltimore County and Harford more closely than Anne Arundel or Baltimore City, which show later spring break windows.
- First day for K-12 students: August 24, 2026
- Scheduled last day: June 8, 2027
Frequently Asked Questions
K-12 students start on Monday, August 24, 2026. Pre-K and RECC students start on August 27.
The scheduled last day is Tuesday, June 8, 2027. The calendar notes that June 7 and June 8 may become full days if inclement weather days are used.
Yes. June 9, June 10, and June 11, 2027 may be used as inclement weather make-up days.
The first day of school for Howard County Public School System students is Monday, August 24, 2026. Teachers typically report a few days earlier for staff development. Parents should check the district website for any orientation sessions, supply list deadlines, or staggered-start schedules that may apply to younger grades.
Howard County Public School System Winter Break runs from December 24, 2026 through January 1, 2027 — that's 7 school days off. Including the adjacent weekends, families have up to 11 consecutive days for holiday travel and family time. Students return to class on Monday, January 4, 2027.
Howard County Public School System Thanksgiving Break is November 25, 2026 through November 27, 2026, giving students 3 weekdays off. With the surrounding weekends, families get 5 consecutive days away from school — enough time for out-of-state travel or extended family gatherings.
Howard County Public School System Spring Break is March 22, 2027 through March 29, 2027 - 6 school days off. Including the weekends on either side, families have up to 10 consecutive days for vacation planning. Note that neighboring school systems may have different Spring Break weeks, so coordinate if you have children in multiple systems.
Yes, Howard County Public School System lists 11 early release or half-days for the 2026-2027 school year: Three-hour early dismissal on September 30, 2026; Three-hour early dismissal on November 23, 2026; Three-hour early dismissal on November 24, 2026; Three-hour early dismissal on December 9, 2026; Three-hour early dismissal on January 14, 2027. Dismissal times on these days typically differ between elementary and secondary campuses, so check with your child's school for the exact schedule. Arrange childcare or after-school plans accordingly.
Between the first day (August 24, 2026) and last day (June 8, 2027), Howard County Public School System students have approximately 27 weekdays off for holidays, breaks, and teacher workdays. That leaves roughly 180 potential instructional days across the school year. Maryland school systems generally plan around state instructional-day requirements and local board-approved calendars.
Howard County Public School System students return to class on Monday, January 4, 2027 after Winter Break. The second semester typically begins on this date. Make sure your children's school supplies are restocked and any required forms are submitted before the return date. Check with your campus for any orientation or welcome-back activities.
Related Links
About This Calendar
Data Source: Official Howard County Public School System 2026-2027 Academic Calendar PDF.
Disclaimer: This website is not affiliated with Howard County Public School System, the Maryland State Department of Education, or any official school system body. While we strive for accuracy, always verify important dates with the official school system website.