The official lcps calendar 25-26 is now available and lays out the student, teacher, and transportation schedules for the 2025–2026 school year. Families, staff, and caregivers should add the key dates below to household calendars so plans for travel, childcare, and appointments avoid school days and teacher workdays.
Table of Contents
Key student dates and totals
Students begin class on Thursday, August 21, 2025, and the last scheduled student day is Monday, June 15, 2026. The district lists 179 instructional days for students across the year. These dates set the framework for vacations, testing windows, and after-school program planning.
Teacher and staff schedules
Teachers report earlier to complete professional learning and planning. The teacher calendar begins on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, and runs through mid-to-late June to allow for grading and closure tasks. The district lists 194 scheduled teacher workdays for the contract year. Expect some teacher-only workdays and professional development sessions in August before students arrive.
Transportation calendar and what it means for bus riders
LCPS publishes a separate transportation calendar to align driver schedules, routing setup, and bus training. For 2025–2026, transportation staff begin in mid-August with a start around Monday, August 11, 2025, and finish in mid-June, with approximately 183 transportation workdays noted. Families who rely on bus service should watch for route postings and morning/evening pickup windows that go live closer to the start of school.
Holidays, breaks and grading periods
The calendar marks standard federal holidays, a fall break window, a winter break in late December, and a spring break period in March or April. LCPS divides the year into quarterly grading periods; those quarter end dates define report card distribution, progress reporting, and semester breaks. Schools also include teacher workdays and student holidays that may not coincide with federal holidays — check school-level notices for additions.
Instructional day counts and attendance planning
With 179 student instructional days, the district meets state-required instructional minutes while scheduling a modest number of contingency days for inclement weather and emergencies. Parents should plan appointments outside school hours when possible and track excused vs. unexcused absence policies through their school’s handbook.
Practical planning checklist by timeline
Now (before August):
- Add the student first day (Aug. 21, 2025) and last day (June 15, 2026) to family calendars.
- Complete any required online registration or forms and confirm contact information with the school.
- Review immunization and health paperwork; schedule any needed doctor and dental visits early in the summer.
- Order school supplies and confirm classroom-specific lists once teachers publish them.
Two weeks before school:
- Check bus stop times and route assignments; many districts post routes 7–14 days before classes begin.
- Confirm before- and after-school care availability for teacher workdays and student holidays.
- Review meal account options and free/reduced lunch application deadlines if applicable.
During the school year:
- Note teacher workdays and early-release days — these affect childcare and family schedules.
- Track quarter end dates to anticipate report cards and parent-teacher conferences.
- Keep an eye on communications for changes caused by construction, boundary adjustments, or emergency closures.
How the separate calendars help different users
LCPS issues distinct calendars for students, teachers, and transportation because each group has role-specific duties and required workdays. Parents should follow the student calendar for classroom days and breaks. Staff should follow the calendar tied to their employment classification. Transportation calendars affect families who depend on bus service because routing and start-of-service dates align with transportation staff availability.
What to watch for at the school level
After the district posts the master calendar, individual schools often publish site-specific events: orientations, back-to-school nights, open houses, and school supply drop-offs. High schools may add testing windows (exam weeks, AP exams) and athletic event schedules. Check your child’s school website and communications for those additional dates.
Tips for families who rely on school services
If your child uses bus transportation, special education services, or school meal programs, verify service start dates and any program-specific calendars. For families using school-based before- and after-care, confirm coverage on teacher workdays and student holidays. If a family member works shifts, build a calendar that flags teacher workdays when students are off but staff are still on site for planning.
Contingency days and weather closures
District calendars typically include built-in contingency or weather makeup days. If severe weather forces a closure, the district may convert one of those makeup days to an instructional day, or apply alternative instruction methods. Keep alert to emergency notifications for real-time decisions about delayed openings, early releases, or full-day closures.
How to stay current
District calendars sometimes change after the initial release due to unforeseen factors like facility projects or revised state requirements. Sign up for district and school notifications, follow official social channels, and check the school website for the most current schedules and any late additions to the calendar.
Accessibility and translation
LCPS provides calendar information in multiple formats and often offers translated materials and accessibility options for families who need them. Contact your school’s front office if you need an alternate format or language assistance.
Final practical checklist for August 2025 start
- Confirm your child’s registration and emergency contact details.
- Add Aug. 21, 2025 (student first day) and June 15, 2026 (student last day) to your household calendar.
- Review teacher workdays and plan childcare for days when students are off but staff attend.
- Check bus route postings and confirm morning pickup/drop-off windows.
- Prepare health records, supply lists, and lunch/payment accounts ahead of opening week.
Closing note
Use the published calendar as the backbone of family planning for the 2025–2026 school year. Schools and the district may post additional, school-specific events and updates as the year approaches, so keep monitoring official communications to avoid surprises and ensure a smooth start to the year.