When do kids go back to school? It’s not the same everywhere—and it’s not the same as it used to be. Older generations remember starting school after Labor Day, but most schools today kick things off earlier. Here’s a closer look at modern school year start dates across the United States.
When do kids go back to school?
School year start dates vary widely across the country, according to data gathered by MDR for 2026-27. It’s most common for kids to go back to school sometime in August, though a few states still stick to later start dates in September.
In 2026-27, nearly half of public schools (48%) report start dates before August 16.
In these states, the majority of schools go back in early to mid-August:
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Mexico
- Oklahoma
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
A little more than a third of public schools (36%) bring students back in mid- to late August.
In these states, it’s common for kids to go back to school from August 16 to August 31:
- Alaska
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Maine
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Missouri
- Montana
- New Hampshire
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Dakota
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Washington, D.C.
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
Just 16% of public schools start the new year September 1 and later in 2026-27.
Here are the states where a majority of schools get a late start to the school year:
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- New Jersey
- New York
- Oregon
- Wisconsin
When do year-round schools go back to school?
Contrary to popular belief, year-round schools do indeed have summer vacations. They’re just shorter, averaging about six weeks. This extended break is still enough time for kids and teachers to relax and to draw a distinct line between one school year and the next. About 2% of schools in the United States run on year-round schedules.
Generally, year-round schools take their six-week break during the months of June, July, and August. Their start dates are often on the earlier side, toward the beginning of August or even late July.
Learn more about year-round schools here.
When do teachers go back to school?
Teacher start dates vary, although they often report back about a week or two before students do. This gives them time to prep their classrooms, participate in training and planning sessions, and be ready to hit the ground running on the first day of school.
It’s worth noting, though, that about three-quarters (76%) of teachers use at least part of their summer break completing required professional development training. And the vast majority (86%) spend time over the summer planning for the year ahead.
So while teachers may have an official back-to-school start date, their summers are rarely entirely care-free. Plus, around half of them (49%) work a second job during their “time off.”
Learn more about what summer is really like for teachers here.
Do kids go back to school earlier than they used to?
Folks who grew up in the 1980s and earlier probably remember much later starts to the new school year. Labor Day is considered the unofficial end of summer in the United States (although fall doesn’t begin until around the third week in September) and was traditionally the signal for the start of the new school year.
Today, only a small portion of schools wait until after Labor Day to kick off the new school year. So, yes, kids to go back to school earlier than they used to. For most, August is now back-to-school month.
Why does the new school year start earlier than it used to in the United States?
Starting in the 1990s, back-to-school dates began to shift earlier for a variety of reasons.
Better alignment of semesters and breaks
Starting the school year late often meant ending the semester several weeks after the long winter break. For high schools with end-of-semester exams, short-term learning loss could be a problem. Starting school earlier means finishing the first semester and any associated exams before the traditional December break.
More prep time for standardized tests
Beginning in the 1990s, standardized testing became a major part of the U.S. education system. Many states set testing dates in late April or early May, and schools shifted their calendars earlier in response so they’d have more time to prep for these tests. Advanced Placement (AP) tests also generally take place in early to mid-May, so an earlier start date gives students more time in class to prepare.
Longer midyear breaks
When schools start the year earlier, they can afford to take more planned time off throughout the year. This might take the form of a fall break of up to a week, plus extended winter or spring breaks. With an early start to the year, schools can offer longer breaks without extending the school year later into the summer.
Getting ready for the new school year? Visit our Back to School hub for resources, tips, and advice, including:
Plus, don’t forget to download your free first-day-of-school signs for every grade!
