Chicago Public Schools Calendar 2026-2027
Chicago Public Schools serves Chicago. The largest school district in Illinois. Below are the 2026-2027 first day, last day and break dates exactly as published on the district's own calendar.
Chicago Public Schools starts late by national standards — August 24, 2026 — and runs to June 11, 2027, a calendar shaped more like the Northeast than the rest of the Midwest. It closes only Thursday and Friday at Thanksgiving rather than the full week many districts take.
Chicago Public Schools key dates, 2026-2027
| Date | When |
|---|---|
| First day of school | August 24, 2026 |
| Thanksgiving Holiday | November 26 - 27, 2026Two days only, not the full week. |
| Winter Vacation | December 21, 2026 - January 1, 2027As printed by the district. January 4 is a professional development day with no students, so classes resume January 5. |
| Spring Vacation | March 22 - 26, 2027 |
| Last day of school | June 11, 2027 |
| Fall break | Not scheduled — Chicago Public Schools does not publish a separate fall break for 2026-2027. |
Chicago Public Schools vs the Illinois statewide window
Our Illinois school calendar page shows the statewide window most districts fall inside. Chicago Public Schools sets its own dates within that window, so the two will not always match. Where they differ, the district date is the one that applies to your school.
| Chicago Public Schools | Illinois window | |
|---|---|---|
| First day | August 24, 2026 | August 24 - 26, 2026 |
| Last day | June 11, 2027 | June 10 - 15, 2027 |
| Spring break | March 22 - 26, 2027 | March 22 - 26, 2027 |
Large district calendars in other states
Source
Every date on this page is transcribed from the district's own published calendar:
Last verified . Districts do occasionally amend calendars after adoption — confirm with the district before booking travel.