When do the children go back to school? It’s not the same everywhere—and it’s not like it used to be. Older generations remember starting school after Labor Day, but many schools today start things earlier. Here’s a closer look at the first days of the modern school year across the United States.
When do the children go back to school?
School year start dates vary across the country, according to data collected by MDR for 2026-27. It is more common for children to return to school sometime in August, although a few states still stick to the first days in September.
In 2026-27, nearly half of public schools (48%) report start dates before August 16.
In these states, most schools resume in mid-August:
- Alabama
- In Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- In Colorado
- In Florida
- Georgia
- In Hawaii
- In Indiana
- Kansas
- in Kentucky
- in Louisiana
- Mississippi
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- In New Mexico
- In Oklahoma
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
More than one-third (36%) of schools return students in mid- to late August.
In these states, it is common for children to return to school from August 16 to August 31:
- Alaska
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Maine
- Maryland
- In Michigan
- Missouri
- Montana
- New Hampshire
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- In Ohio
- in Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Dakota
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Washington, DC
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
Only 16% of public schools start the new year on September 1 and later in 2026-27.
Here are the districts where most schools start the school year late:
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- New Jersey
- New York
- In Oregon
- In Wisconsin
When do year-round schools go back to school?
Contrary to popular belief, year-round schools have summer vacations. They are short, about six weeks. This extended break is still enough time for children and teachers to rest and draw a line between one school year and the next. About 2% of schools in the United States operate on year-round schedules.
Generally, year-round schools take their six-week break during the months of June, July and August. Their first dates are usually on the earlier side, early August or even late July.
Read more about year-round schools here.
When do teachers go back to school?
Start dates for teachers vary, although they usually report about a week or two before students do. This gives them time to prepare their classrooms, participate in training and planning sessions, and be ready to start over on the first day of school.
It is noteworthy, however, that nearly three-quarters (76%) of teachers spend at least half of their summer vacation completing required professional development training. And the majority (86%) spend time on summer plans for next year.
So while teachers may have an official start date back to school, their summer is rarely uneventful. Also, almost half of them (49%) work a second job during their “free time”.
Read more about what summer is really like for teachers here.
Are children returning to school earlier than before?
People who grew up in the 1980s and earlier probably remember the start of a new school year much later. Labor Day is considered the unofficial end of summer in the United States (even though fall doesn’t start until the third week in September) and traditionally signaled the start of the new school year.
Today, only a small percentage of schools wait until after Labor Day to start the new school year. So, yes, children should go back to school earlier than before. For many, August is now back-to-school month.
Why does the new school year start earlier than before in the United States?
Beginning 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 a few weeks after the long winter break. In high schools with end-of-semester exams, short-term learning loss can be a problem. Starting school early means finishing the first semester and any related exams before the traditional December break.
More preparation time for standardized tests
Since the 1990s, standardized testing has become a major part of the US education system. Many states set test dates in late April or early May, and schools changed their calendars early in response to have more time to prepare for these tests. Advanced Placement (AP) tests also typically take place in early to mid-May, so an earlier start date gives students more time in class to prepare.
Long breaks during the year
When schools start a year earlier, they can take more scheduled time throughout the year. This could take the form of a fall break of up to a week, as well as extended winter or spring breaks. At the beginning of the year, schools can offer longer breaks without extending the school year later in the summer.
Getting ready for the new school year? Visit our Back to School hub for resources, tips, and advice, including:
Also, don’t forget to download your free first day of school stickers for all grades!
