When is the first day of school for Wake County Public School System in 2026?

The first day of school for the 2026-27 year is Monday, August 24, 2026.

When is the last day of school for Wake County Public School System?

The last day of the 2026-27 school year is Wednesday, June 9, 2027.

When is WCPSS spring break 2027?

Spring break runs Monday, March 29, 2027 through Friday, April 2, 2027.

When is winter break for WCPSS?

Winter break runs Monday, December 21, 2026 through Friday, January 1, 2027. Students return the following school day.

NC School Calendar › Districts › Wake County Public School System

Wake County Public School System Calendar 2026-27 (WCPSS)

Traditional calendar · Wake County, North Carolina · Verified from the official district calendar · Updated September 2, 2026

The Wake County Public School System 2026-27 school year begins Monday, August 24, 2026 and ends Wednesday, June 9, 2027. Key dates below, including every scheduled break and student holiday.

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Key Dates at a Glance

Event	Date
First day of school	Monday, August 24, 2026
Winter break	Dec 21, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027
Spring break	Mar 29, 2027 – Apr 2, 2027
Last day of school	Wednesday, June 9, 2027

Student Holidays & Days Off

Date	Holiday
Sep 7, 2026	Labor Day
Nov 11, 2026	Veterans Day
Nov 25, 2026	Thanksgiving Break (Vacation Day)
Nov 26, 2026	Thanksgiving Holiday
Nov 27, 2026	Thanksgiving Holiday
Jan 1, 2027	New Year's Day
Jan 18, 2027	Martin Luther King Jr. Day
May 31, 2027	Memorial Day

Good to know: WCPSS runs three calendar types: Traditional, Year-Round, and Modified. These are the TRADITIONAL calendar dates (most schools); year-round and modified schools follow different schedules published at wcpss.net/calendars.

About the 2026-27 calendar

North Carolina's school calendar law generally requires traditional-calendar districts to open no earlier than the Monday closest to August 26 and close by the Friday closest to June 11 — though a number of districts open earlier under waivers or local calendar flexibility. Wake County Public School System's 2026-27 traditional calendar runs Aug 24, 2026 to Jun 9, 2027, with 8 scheduled student holidays listed above. Make-up days for weather closures are set by the district and can shift dates late in the year — the official calendar linked above is always the final word.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the first day of school for Wake County Public School System in 2026?: The first day of school for the 2026-27 year is Monday, August 24, 2026.
When is the last day of school for Wake County Public School System?: The last day of the 2026-27 school year is Wednesday, June 9, 2027.
When is WCPSS spring break 2027?: Spring break runs Monday, March 29, 2027 through Friday, April 2, 2027.
When is winter break for WCPSS?: Winter break runs Monday, December 21, 2026 through Friday, January 1, 2027. Students return the following school day.

Looking for last year's dates? See the archived Wake County Public School System 2025-26 calendar.

Related NC District Calendars

Source: dates verified against the official Wake County Public School System calendar (source) on September 2, 2026. Spotted an error or a date change? Report a correction — we verify and fix fast.