Academic Calendar
This calendar represents academic days and any holiday or event that affects the academic calendar. Click Here to see a full list of cultural events or holidays celebrated by our diverse School District community.
TERM 1
Dates: 8/26/24-11/7/24
Full Instructional Days: 49
Early Dismissal Instructional Days: 1
Interim Reports Due: 9/23/24
Report Card Conf: 11/15/24
TERM 2
Dates: 11/8/24 – 1/22/25
Full Instructional Days: 38
Early Dismissal Instructional Days: 2
Interim Reports Due: 12/9/24
Report Card Conf: 1/30-25-1/31/25
TERM 3
Dates: 1/23/25-3/21/25
Full Instructional Days: 36
Early Dismissal Instructional Days: 4
Interim Reports Due: 2/19/25
Report Card Conf: 3/27/25-3/28/25
TERM 4
Dates: 3/24/25-6/13/25
Full Instructional Days: 46
Early Dismissal Instructional Days: 5
Interim Reports Due: 5/2/25
August 2024 | 5 Student Days; 9 Staff Days
- 20th: Staff Professional Development
- 21st: Reorganization
- 22nd-23rd: Staff Professional Development
- 26th: First day of school for students
- 26th-30th: Kindergarten interview day; Three Hour Early Dismissal (K only)
View Cultural Events & Holiday Calendar
September 2024 | 20 Student Days; 20 Staff Days
- 2nd: Labor Day; Schools closed for students and staff; Administrative offices closed
- 27th: Staff Professional Development (Half Day); Three Hour Early Dismissal for Students
View Cultural Events & Holiday Calendar
October 2024 | 21 Student Days; 22 Staff Days
- 3rd: Rosh Hashanah; Schools closed for students and staff; Administrative offices closed
- 25th: Staff Professional Development (Full Day); School closed for students
Additional Important Dates:
14th: Indigenous Peoples’ Day of Learning (In-school day)
View Cultural Events & Holiday Calendar
November 2024 | 17 Student Days; 18 Staff Days
- 5th: Election Day; Schools closed for students and staff
- 15th Term 1 Report Card Conferences (Full Day); School closed for students
- 27th: 3 hour early dismissal for students and staff
- 28th-29th: Thanksgiving Recess; School closed for students and staff; Administrative offices closed
Additional Important Dates:
3rd: Daylight Saving Time ends
11th: Veterans Day (In-school day)
View Cultural Events & Holiday Calendar
December 2024 | 15 Student Days; 15 Staff Days
- 13th: Staff Professional Development (Half Day); Three Hour Early Dismissal for Students
- 23rd-31st: Winter Recess; School closed for students and staff; Administrative offices closed
- 25th: Christmas Day; School closed for students and staff; Administrative offices closed
View Cultural Events & Holiday Calendar
January 2025 | 18 Student Days; 19 Staff Days
- 1st: New Year’s Day; School closed for students and staff; Administrative offices closed
- 1st-2nd: Winter Recess cont.; School closed for students and staff; Administrative offices closed
- 3rd: Staff Professional Development (Full Day); School closed for students
- 20th: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day; School closed for students and staff; Administrative offices closed
- 21st: Kindergarten Registration Opens
- 29th: Lunar New Year; School closed for students and staff; Administrative offices closed
- 30th, 31st: Term 2 Report Card Conferences (Half Day); Three Hour Early Dismissal for Students
Additional Important Dates:
6th-17th: Keystone Testing Window
View Cultural Events & Holiday Calendar
February 2025 | 19 Student Days; 19 Staff Days
- 7th: Staff Professional Development (Half Day); Three Hour Early Dismissal for Students
- 17th: Presidents’ Day; School closed for students and staff; Administrative offices closed
Additional Important Dates:
View Cultural Events & Holiday Calendar
March 2025 | 20 Student Days; 20 Staff Days
- 4th: Kindergarten Open House Day
- 7th: Staff Professional Development (Half Day); Three Hour Early Dismissal for Students
- 27th, 28th: Term 3 Report Card Conferences (Half Day); Three Hour Early Dismissal for Students
- 31st: Eid al-Fitr; School closed for students and staff; Administrative offices closed
Additional Important Dates:
9th: Daylight Saving Time starts
View Cultural Events & Holiday Calendar
April 2025 | 17 Student Days; 17 Staff Days
- 14th-17th: Spring Recess; School closed for students and staff
- 18th: Good Friday; School closed for students and staff; Administrative offices closed
Additional Important Dates:
21st: PSSA testing window begins
View Cultural Events & Holiday Calendar
May 2025 | 20 Student Days; 20 Staff Days
- 9th: Staff Professional Development (Half Day); Three Hour Early Dismissal for Students
- 12th-16th: Kindergarten Open House Week
- 20th: Election Day; School closed for students and staff
- 26th: Memorial Day; School closed for students and staff; Administrative offices closed
- 30th: Kindergarten Registration Closes
Additional Important Dates:
2nd: PSSA testing window ends
12th-23rd: Keystone testing window
View Cultural Events & Holiday Calendar
June 2025 | 9 Student Days; 9 Staff Days
- 6th: Eid al-Adha; School closed for students and staff; Administrative offices closed
- 12th: Staff Professional Development (Half Day); Three Hour Early Dismissal for Students
- 13th: Last Day of School for students and staff; Staff Professional Development (Half Day); Three Hour Early Dismissal for Students
- 19th: Juneteenth; Administrative offices closed
Additional Important Dates:
11th-13th: Graduation window
View Cultural Events & Holiday Calendar
July 2025
4th: Independence Day; School closed for students and staff; Administrative offices closed
Please note the following:
Some religious holidays begin at sundown on the evening before the holiday. Additionally, some holidays include fasting practices. Please be mindful of these holidays when scheduling tests, activities and events.
Board-approved 2/23/2023
Cultural Calendar
August
- Intersectionality Awareness Month
- August 13 – Tisha B’av
- August 25 – Arbaeen
- August 26 – Janmashtami
September
- September 2 – Labor Day
- September 7 – Brazilian Independence Day
- September 15 – The Start of Latina/o/x/e Hispanic Heritage Month
- Costa Rican Independence Day
- El Salvador Independence Day
- Guatemalan Independence Day
- Honduran Independence Day
- Nicaraguan Independence Day
- Day of Democracy
- September 16 – Mexican Independence Day
- September 18 – Chilean Independence Day
- September 20 – MIA/POW Recognition Day
- September 21 – International Day of Peace
- September 30 – International Translation Day
October
- LGBTQ History Month
- October 1 – International Day of Older Persons
- October 2 – 4 – Rosh Hashanah
- October 3 – 12 – Navaratri
- October 11 – National Coming Out Day
- October 11 – 12 – Yom Kippur
- October 14 – Indigenous People’s Day
- October 15 – White Cane Safety Day
- October 16 – 23 – Sukkot
- October 24 – 25 – Simchat Torah
- October 25 – International Dwarfism Awareness Day
November
- Native American Heritage Month
- November 1 – Diwali and Dia De Los Muertos
- November 3 – Birth of Baha’u’llah
- November 11 – Veterans Day
- November 16 – International Day of Tolerance
- November 20 – Trans Day of Remembrance
- November 25 – Day of the Covenant
- November 27 – Ascension of Abdu’l-Baha
- November 28 – Thanksgiving
- November 30 – St. Andrew’s Feast Day
December
- National Human Rights Month
- December 3 – International Day of Peoples’ w/ Disabilities
- December 8 – Bodhi Day
- December 21 – Winter Solstice
- December 24 – Christmas Eve
- December 25 – Christmas Day
- December 25 – Jan 2 – Hanukkah
- December 26 – Jan 1 – Kwanzaa
January
- National Poverty Awareness Month
- January 6 – Three Kings Day
- January 7 – Orthodox Christmas
- January 14 – Mahayana New Year and Pongal
- January 15 – MLK Day
- January 27 – International Holocaust Remembrance Day
- January 29 – Lunar New Year
February
- Black History Month
- February 1 – National Freedom Day
- February 2 – Candlemas and Groundhog Day
- February 8 – Lailat at Miraj
- February 13 – Tu B’Shvat
- February 14 – Valentine’s Day
- February 15 – Parinirvana
- February 17 – Presidents’ Day
- February 20 – World Day of Social Justice
- February 26 – Maha Shivaratri
- February 28 – First day of Ramadan
March
- Women’s History Month
- March 1 – Zero Discrimination Day
- March 3 – World Hearing Day
- March 4 – Mardi Gras
- March 5 – Ash Wednesday
- March 8 – International Women’s Day
- March 10 – Harriet Tubman Day
- March 14 – Holi and Hola Mohalla
- March 17 – St. Patrick’s Day
- March 20 – Naw-Rúz
- March 21 – World Down Syndrome Day and International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
- March 30 – Eid al-Fitr
- March 31 – Trans Day of Visibility
April
- Arab American Heritage Month
- April 2 – Autism Awareness Day and Autism Acceptance Day
- April 7 – World Health Day
- April 12 – April 20 – Passover
- April 12 – Hanuman Jayanti
- April 13 – Palm Sunday
- April 14 – Ambedkar Jayanti and Vaisakhi
- April 17 – Holy Thursday
- April 18 – Good Friday
- April 19 – Holy Saturday
- April 20 – Easter Sunday
- April 20 – May 2 – Ridvàn
- April 22 – Earth Day
- April 30 – International Guide Dog Day
May
- AAPI Heritage Month
- Jewish American Heritage Month
- May 5 – Cinco de Mayo, Buddha’s Birthday, African World Heritage Day
- May 11 – Mother’s Day
- May 12 – Vesak
- May 16 – Lag BaOmer and Malcolm X Day
- May 17 – Armed Forces Day
- May 21 – World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development
- May 22 – Harvey Milk Day
- May 26 – Memorial Day
- May 28 – Ascension of Baha’u’llah
June
- Caribbean American Heritage Month
- PRIDE Month
- June 1 – 2 – Shuvout
- June 5 – Ganga Dussehra
- June 6 – D-Day
- June 7 – Eid al-Adha
- June 8 – Pentecost and Odunde
- June 11 – Kamehameha Day
- June 12 – Pulse Nightclub Remembrance
- June 14 – Flag Day
- June 15 – Father’s Day
- June 16 – Bloomsday
- June 19 – Juneteenth
- June 20 – World Refugee Day
- June 21 – Summer Solstice
- June 26 – Islamic New Year
- June 27 – Helen Keller Day
- June 28 – Stonewall Riots Anniversary
2025-2026 Academic Calendar
This calendar represents academic days and any holiday or event that affects the academic calendar. View the full list of cultural events or holidays celebrated by our diverse School District community.
| TERM 1 | TERM 2 | TERM 3 | TERM 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dates: 8/25/25 – 11/10/25 Full Instructional Days: 49 Early Dismissal Instructional Days: 1 Interim Reports Due: 9/30/25 Report Card Conf: 11/24/25 – 11/25/25 |
Dates: 11/11/25 – 1/21/26 Full Instructional Days: 35 Early Dismissal Instructional Days: 5 Interim Reports Due: 12/11/25 Report Card Conf: 1/29/26 – 1/30/26 |
Dates: 1/22/26 – 3/24/26 Full Instructional Days: 37 Early Dismissal Instructional Days: 4 Interim Reports Due: 2/19/26 Report Card Conf: 4/9/26 – 4/10/26 |
Dates: 3/25/26 – 6/12/26 Full Instructional Days: 44 Early Dismissal Instructional Days: 6 Interim Reports Due: 5/5/26 |
August 2025 | 5 Student Days; 10 Staff Days
- 18th-22nd: Staff Professional Development & Reorganization (Full Day)
- 25th: First day of school for students
- 25th-29th: Kindergarten interview days (Three Hour Early Dismissal for K only)
View Cultural Events & Holiday Calendar
September 2025 | 20 Student Days; 20 Staff Days
- 1st: Labor Day; Schools closed for students and staff; Administrative offices closed
- 12th: Staff Professional Development (Half Day); Three Hour Early Dismissal for Students
- 23rd: Rosh Hashanah; Schools closed for students and staff; Administrative offices closed
View Cultural Events & Holiday Calendar
October 2025 | 20 Student Days; 21 Staff Days
- 2nd: Yom Kippur; Schools closed for students and staff; Administrative offices closed
- 10th: Staff Professional Development (Full Day); School Closed for Students
- 13th: Indigenous Peoples’ Day; Schools closed for students and staff; Administrative offices closed
Additional Important Dates: 20th: Diwali
View Cultural Events & Holiday Calendar
November 2025 | 16 Student Days; 16 Staff Days
- 4th: Election Day; Schools closed for students and staff
- 11th: Veterans Day; Schools closed for students and staff; Administrative Offices closed
- 24th, 25th: Report Card Conference (Half Day); Three Hour Early Dismissal for Students
- 26th: 3-Hour Early Dismissal for students and staff
- 27th-28th: Thanksgiving Recess; School closed for students and staff; Administrative offices closed
Additional Important Dates: 10th: Term 1 Ends
View Cultural Events & Holiday Calendar
December 2025 | 17 Student Days; 17 Staff Days
- 12th: Staff Professional Development (Half Day); Three Hour Early Dismissal for Students
- 24th-31st: Winter Recess; School closed for students and staff; Administrative offices closed
- 25th: Christmas Day; School closed for students and staff; Administrative offices closed
View Cultural Events & Holiday Calendar
January 2026 | 19 Student Days; 20 Staff Days
- 1st: New Year’s Day; School closed for students and staff; Administrative offices closed
- 2nd: Staff Professional Development (Full Day); School Closed for Students
- 16th: Staff Professional Development (Half Day); Three Hour Early Dismissal for Students
- 19th: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day; School closed for students and staff; Administrative offices closed
- 29th, 30th: Term 2 Report Card Conferences (Half Day); Three Hour Early Dismissal for Students
Additional Important Dates: 5th-16th: Keystone Testing Window; 6th: Three Kings Day; 21st: Term 2 Ends
View Cultural Events & Holiday Calendar
February 2026 | 18 Student Days; 18 Staff Days
- 13th: Staff Professional Development (Half Day); Three Hour Early Dismissal for Students
- 16th: Presidents’ Day; School closed for students and staff; Administrative offices closed
- 17th: Lunar New Year; School closed for students and staff; Administrative offices closed
View Cultural Events & Holiday Calendar
March 2026 | 19 Student Days; 19 Staff Days
- 13th: Staff Professional Development (Half Day); Three Hour Early Dismissal for Students
- 20th: Eid al-Fitr; School closed for students and staff; Administrative offices closed
- 30th-31st: Spring Recess; Schools closed for students and staff
Additional Important Dates: 24th: Term 3 Ends
View Cultural Events & Holiday Calendar
April 2026 | 19 Student Days; 19 Staff Days
- 1st-2nd: Spring Recess; Schools closed for students and staff
- 3rd: Good Friday; School closed for students and staff; Administrative offices closed
- 9th, 10th: Report Card Conferences (Half Day); Three Hour Early Dismissal for Students
- 17th: Staff Professional Development (Half Day); Three Hour Early Dismissal for Students
Additional Important Dates: 20th: PSSA Testing Begins
View Cultural Events & Holiday Calendar
May 2026 | 18 Student Days; 18 Staff Days
- 8th: Staff Professional Development (Half Day); Three Hour Early Dismissal for Students
- 19th: Election Day (tentative); Schools closed for students and staff
- 25th: Memorial Day; School closed for students and staff; Administrative offices closed
- 27th: Eid al-Adha; School closed for students and staff; Administrative offices closed
Additional Important Dates: 1st: PSSA Testing Ends; 11th-22nd: Keystone Testing Window
View Cultural Events & Holiday Calendar
June 2026 | 10 Student Days; 10 Staff Days
- 11th: Staff Professional Development (Half Day); Three Hour Early Dismissal for Students
- 12th: Last Day of School for students and staff; Three Hour Early Dismissal for Students, Full day for Staff
- 19th: Juneteenth; Administrative offices closed
Additional Important Dates: 10th-12th: Graduation Window
View Cultural Events & Holiday Calendar
July 2026
- 3rd: Independence Day (observed); School closed for students and staff; Administrative offices closed; No summer programming
Board-approved 2/27/2025
2026-2027 Academic Calendar
This calendar represents academic days and any holiday or event that affects the academic calendar. View the full list of cultural events or holidays celebrated by our diverse School District community.
| TERM 1 | TERM 2 | TERM 3 | TERM 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dates: 8/24/26 – 11/6/26 Full Instructional Days: 49 Early Dismissal Instructional Days: 1 Interim Reports Due: 9/29/26 Report Card Conf: 11/23/26 – 11/24/26 |
Dates: 11/9/26 – 1/21/27 Full Instructional Days: 37 Early Dismissal Instructional Days: 5 Interim Reports Due: 12/10/26 Report Card Conf: 1/28/27 – 1/29/27 |
Dates: 1/22/27 – 3/30/27 Full Instructional Days: 37 Early Dismissal Instructional Days: 3 Interim Reports Due: 2/18/27 Report Card Conf: 4/15/27 – 4/16/27 |
Dates: 3/31/27 – 6/10/27 Full Instructional Days: 43 Early Dismissal Instructional Days: 6 Interim Reports Due: 5/4/26 |
August 2026 | 6 Student Days; 11 Staff Days
- 17th-21st: Staff Professional Development & Reorganization (Full Day)
- 24th: First day of school for students
- 24th-28th: Kindergarten interview days (Three Hour Early Dismissal for K only)
View Cultural Events & Holiday Calendar
September 2026 | 20 Student Days; 20 Staff Days
- 7th: Labor Day; Schools closed for students and staff; Administrative offices closed
- 18th: Staff Professional Development (Half Day); Three Hour Early Dismissal for Students
- 21st: Yom Kippur; Schools closed for students and staff; Administrative offices closed
Additional Important Dates: 12th: Rosh Hashanah
View Cultural Events & Holiday Calendar
October 2026 | 20 Student Days; 21 Staff Days
- 9th: Staff Professional Development (Full Day); School Closed for Students
- 12th: Indigenous Peoples’ Day; Schools closed for students and staff; Administrative offices closed
View Cultural Events & Holiday Calendar
November 2026 | 17 Student Days; 17 Staff Days
- 3rd: Election Day; Schools closed for students and staff
- 11th: Veterans Day; Schools closed for students and staff; Administrative offices closed
- 23rd, 24th: Term 1 Report Card Conferences (Half Day); Three Hour Early Dismissal for Students
- 25th: Three Hour Early Dismissal for Students and Staff
- 26th-27th: Thanksgiving Recess; School closed for students and staff; Administrative offices closed
Additional Important Dates: 6th: Term 1 Ends; 8th: Diwali
View Cultural Events & Holiday Calendar
December 2026 | 16 Student Days; 16 Staff Days
- 11th: Staff Professional Development (Half Day); Three Hour Early Dismissal for Students
- 23rd-31st: Winter Recess; School closed for students and staff; Administrative offices closed
- 25th: Christmas Day; School closed for students and staff; Administrative offices closed
View Cultural Events & Holiday Calendar
January 2027 | 19 Student Days; 19 Staff Days
- 1st: New Year’s Day; School closed for students and staff; Administrative offices closed
- 15th: Staff Professional Development (Half Day); Three Hour Early Dismissal for Students
- 18th: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day; School closed for students and staff; Administrative offices closed
- 28th, 29th: Term 2 Report Card Conferences (Half Day); Three Hour Early Dismissal for Students
Additional Important Dates: 4th-15th: Keystone Testing Window; 6th: Three Kings Day; 21st: Term 2 Ends
View Cultural Events & Holiday Calendar
February 2027 | 18 Student Days; 19 Staff Days
- 12th: Staff Professional Development (Full Day); School Closed for Students
- 15th: Presidents’ Day; School closed for students and staff; Administrative offices closed
Additional Important Dates: 6th: Lunar New Year
View Cultural Events & Holiday Calendar
March 2027 | 17 Student Days; 17 Staff Days
- 10th: Eid al-Fitr; School closed for students and staff; Administrative offices closed
- 19th: Staff Professional Development (Half Day); Three Hour Early Dismissal for Students
- 22nd-25th: Spring Recess; Schools closed for students and staff
- 26th: Good Friday; School closed for students and staff; Administrative offices closed
Additional Important Dates: 30th: Term 3 Ends
View Cultural Events & Holiday Calendar
April 2027 | 22 Student Days; 22 Staff Days
- 9th: Staff Professional Development (Half Day); Three Hour Early Dismissal for Students
- 15th, 16th: Report Card Conferences (Half Day); Three Hour Early Dismissal for Students
Additional Important Dates: 26th-30th: PSSA Testing
View Cultural Events & Holiday Calendar
May 2027 | 18 Student Days; 18 Staff Days
- 14th: Staff Professional Development (Half Day); Three Hour Early Dismissal for Students
- 17th: Eid al-Adha; School closed for students and staff; Administrative offices closed
- 18th: Election Day (tentative); School closed for students and staff
- 31st: Memorial Day; School closed for students and staff; Administrative offices closed
Additional Important Dates: 3rd-7th: PSSA Testing Window; 17th-28th: Keystone Testing Window
View Cultural Events & Holiday Calendar
June 2027 | 8 Student Days; 8 Staff Days
- 9th: Staff Professional Development (Half Day); Three Hour Early Dismissal for Students
- 10th: Last Day of School for students and staff; Three Hour Early Dismissal for Students, Full day for Staff
- 18th: Juneteenth (observed); Administrative offices closed
Additional Important Dates: 9th-11th: Graduation Window
View Cultural Events & Holiday Calendar
July 2027
- 5th: Independence Day (observed); School closed for students and staff; Administrative offices closed; No summer programming
View Cultural Events & Holiday Calendar
Board-approved 2/27/2025
Academic Calendar Overview
Policy 803 – School Calendar and the related Administrative Procedures guide how to adopt an annual school calendar that reflects the District’s commitment to our core beliefs and goals, including our commitment to equity. Two committees lead the biannual development of the academic calendar: (1) The Academic Calendar Oversight Committee, which provides oversight to the development of the calendar in preparation for it to be presented to the Superintendent and Board of Education; and (2) The Academic Calendar Stakeholder Engagement Committee, which engages stakeholders through feedback sessions and develops a district-wide academic calendar survey in partnership with the Office of Evaluation, Research and Accountability (ERA). View the Results Here.
Outlined below is a summary of decisions based on the research and feedback, and the corresponding rationale. Our primary goal is to create calendars that support student learning and meet the needs of students, families and staff, as well as adhere to calendar requirements mandated by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and Collective Bargaining Units.
Stakeholder Engagement and Research Completed to Date
- 20 feedback sessions from multiple stakeholder groups – 271 participants
- Stakeholder Groups: Families/Community, Teachers, Principals, Office of Teaching and Learning Staff and Academic Coaches, Partner Organizations, Early Childhood Providers, Religious Leaders, Government Officials
- District Wide Academic Calendar Survey (translated in 12 languages) – 16,485 responses
- Collective Bargaining Agreements Review
- Data Analysis of Student and Staff Attendance of Staff during Holidays, Spring and Winter Recesses, and early in the School Year
Academic Calendar Contract and Policy Requirements
The academic calendar must include the following:
- Five national holidays: Independence Day, Christmas, Thanksgiving, New Year’s Day, Memorial Day (24 P.S. § 1502)
- 10 month employees under the PFT contract must have at least 12 paid holidays including the five holidays required by the State (Article XXV, Section A, Collective Bargaining Agreement)
- 181 student days and 188 teacher work days within July 1st and June 30th (Article XVII, Section A, Collective Bargaining Agreement)
- 180 student days OR 900 instructional hours for elementary and middle school students; 990 instructional hours for high school students (24 P.S. §15-1504)
- Five (5) interview half days for all Kindergarten teachers during the first five (5) days of the student school year. (Article XVIII, Section D, Collective Bargaining Agreement)
- Minimum of 28 professional development hours (Article X, Section B, Collective Bargaining Agreement)
- Two (2) evening meetings per year and, provided there is joint agreement by the Principal, the Building Representative, and the President of the Home & School Association (if there is one), a third evening meeting per year. (Article XII, Section B, Collective Bargaining Agreement)
- Payroll Contract Year runs from August 16th-June 15th of a given school year. The payroll contract year drives how the payroll system pays 10-month employees who are paid over 12 months. All school days must fall within this period of time.
2025/26 and 2026/27 Academic Calendar Decisions and Rationale
Listed below is a summary of decisions made based on the data and research, and rationale for what is included in the 2025/26 and 2026/27 academic calendars.
| First Day of School for Students | |
| Decision | Rationale |
| Staff Return by or after August 16th | The SDP payroll contract year is August 16th to June 15th. Staff must return after August 16th and attend professional development before students return. |
| Students Return before Labor Day | There must be 181 school days for students and 188 work days for staff. Given these constraints, an after Labor Day start is not always possible while keeping all holidays and breaks intact.
Many stakeholders expressed concern over an early start due to heat. However, all groups preferred maintaining days off and full-length breaks, even if it meant starting before Labor Day. |
| Last Day of School for Students | |
| Decision | Rationale |
| School Ends by or before June 15th | The SDP payroll contract year ends on June 15th, so students and staff cannot attend beyond this date. |
| Religious/Cultural Celebrations | |
| Decision | Rationale |
| Weekend holidays will not be observed as days off, except when mandated by Pennsylvania | To meet the 181 school days requirement, only weekday holidays will be observed. |
| Indigenous Peoples Day will be a day off | Previously observed as a day of learning, stakeholders requested Indigenous Peoples’ Day be reinstated as an observed holiday. |
| Veterans Day will be a day off | Previously an in-school learning day, stakeholders requested Veterans Day be reinstated as an observed holiday. |
| Days for Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha | Eid dates vary based on moon sightings. SDP will observe dates recommended by religious leaders. |
| Professional Development | |
| Decision | Rationale |
| Four days for professional development before school starts | School leaders and teachers emphasized the need for additional preparation days, leading to an increase in pre-school-year PD days. |
| Winter Recess | |
| Decision | Rationale |
| 8 days of Winter Recess will be prioritized | Stakeholders emphasized the importance of full-length breaks. However, longer recesses posed childcare issues for some families, leading to an 8-day compromise. |
| Miscellaneous | |
| Decision | Rationale |
| Half day before Thanksgiving | To accommodate travel and preparation, stakeholders supported maintaining a half-day schedule before Thanksgiving. |
Previous Calendar Decisions Rationale
SY 23/24 and SY24/25 Academic Calendars: Executive Summary and Decision Rationale
When developing the annual Academic Calendar for The School District of Philadelphia, our primary goal is to establish a schedule that supports student learning and meets the diverse needs of students, families and staff, while also adhering to calendar requirements mandated by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and Collective Bargaining Units.
To finalize the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 academic calendars, we engaged students, staff, community members, and District families in order to understand the priorities of our various audiences, and to ensure that our core beliefs, goals, and commitment to equity is reflected. To learn more about our methods, you can download our Executive Summary and Decision Rationale Deep Dive HERE.