HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Backpacks are being bought and school supplies gathered up as families start preparing to send their students back to school.
The first day of class for kindergartners through 12th grade Howard County Public School System students will be Aug. 24.
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Pre-kindergartners and RECC students start school on Aug. 27.
There are a host of other important dates parents and guardians should make note of for the 2026-2027 school year. Patch has compiled them below.
Important Dates For HCPSS Students
- Aug. 24 - first day for kindergarten through 12th grade students
- Aug. 27 - first day for pre-kindergarten/RECC students
- Sept. 7 - schools and offices closed
- Sept. 21 - schools and offices closed
- Sept. 30 - schools dismiss three hours early; no half-day pre-K/RECC
- Oct. 16 - schools closed for students for a staff workday
- Oct. 28 - schools closed for students for staff professional learning/workday
- Nov. 3 - schools and offices closed
- Nov. 23 through Nov. 24 - schools dismiss three hours early; no half-day pre-K/RECC for parent-teacher conferences at elementary and middle schools while high school staff have a professional day Nov. 23 and conferences are at all grade levels Nov. 24
- Nov. 25 - schools closed for students and parent-teacher conferences at all grade levels
- Nov. 26 through Nov. 27 - schools and offices closed
- Dec. 9 - schools dismiss three hours early; no half-day pre-K/RECC for a staff professional learning/workday
- Dec. 24 through Jan. 1 - schools and offices closed
- Jan. 18 - schools and offices closed
- Jan. 19 - schools closed for students for staff professional learning/workday
- Feb. 3 - schools closed for students for staff professional learning/workday
- Feb. 11 - elementary schools dismiss three hours early; no half-day pre-K/RECC for elementary school parent-teacher conferences
- Feb. 12 - elementary schools dismiss three hours early; no half-day pre-K/RECC for elementary school parent-teacher conferences
- Feb. 15 - schools and offices closed
- March 9 - schools closed for students for staff professional learning/workday
- March 22 through March 29 - schools and offices closed
- April 8 - schools dismiss three hours early; no half-day pre-K/RECC for a staff professional learning/workday
- May 17 - schools dismiss three hours early; no half-day pre-K/RECC for a staff professional learning/workday
- May 31 - schools and offices closed
- June 2 - schools dismiss three hours early; no half-day pre-K/RECC for a staff professional learning/workday
- June 7 - schools dismiss three hours early; no half-day pre-K/RECC for a staff professional learning/workday
- June 8 - schools dismiss three hours early; no half-day pre-K/RECC for a staff professional learning/workday
- The last scheduled day of school is June 8 but if it is needed as an inclement weather day, it could become a full day, school officials noted.
- June 9-11 and June 14-16 also may be used as inclement weather days.