Simple ScheduleIowa School Calendars 2026-2027
Fall break, Thanksgiving, winter and spring break for Iowa school districts, plus first and last days.
It's the weekend: no school in Iowa today.
Fall break
Not common
about 14% of districts take one
Thanksgiving break
Wed – Fri
Nov 25–27
2026 · most common dates
Winter break
Mon – Fri
Dec 21 – Jan 1
2026 · most common dates
Spring break
Mon – Fri
Mar 15–19
2027 · most common dates
Holidays and Iowa schools
Each 2026-2027 holiday on a school day, and the share of Iowa districts we track with no school that day.
| Holiday | Date | Type | No school |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor Day | Mon, Sep 7 | Federal holiday | 93% |
| Columbus Day | Mon, Oct 12 | Federal holiday | 14% |
| Veterans Day | Wed, Nov 11 | Federal holiday | 14% |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thu, Nov 26 | Federal holiday | 100% |
| Day after Thanksgiving | Fri, Nov 27 | State holiday | 93% |
| Christmas Day | Fri, Dec 25 | Federal holiday | 100% |
| New Year's Day | Fri, Jan 1 | Federal holiday | 100% |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Mon, Jan 18 | Federal holiday | 86% |
| Washington's Birthday (Presidents' Day) | Mon, Feb 15 | Federal holiday | 43% |
| Memorial Day | Mon, May 31 | Federal holiday | 100% |
Iowa school district calendars
Open a district for every day off, early release and break in 2026-2027.
| District | First day | Last day | Thanksgiving | Winter break | Spring break | No-school days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ankeny Community School District | Aug 24 | May 28 | Nov 25–27 | Dec 21 – Jan 1 | Mar 12–19 | 28 |
| Cedar Falls Community School District | Aug 24 | Jun 1 | Nov 25–27 | Dec 21 – Jan 1 | Mar 12–19 | 25 |
| Cedar Rapids Comm School District | Aug 25 | May 28 | — | Dec 23 – Jan 1 | Mar 15–19 | 16 |
| College Community School District | Aug 24 | Jun 1 | Nov 25–27 | Dec 23 – Jan 1 | Mar 15–19 | 29 |
| Council Bluffs Community School District | Aug 24 | May 27 | Nov 25–27 | Dec 21 – Jan 4 | Mar 22–26 | 22 |
| Davenport Comm School District | Aug 25 | May 28 | Nov 25–30 | Dec 23 – Jan 4 | Mar 15–19 | 30 |
| Des Moines Public Schools | Aug 24 | Jun 3 | Nov 26–27 | Dec 21 – Jan 1 | Mar 11–19 | 31 |
| Dubuque Comm School District | Aug 25 | May 27 | Nov 26–27 | Dec 21 – Jan 1 | Mar 29–31 | 23 |
| Iowa City Comm School District | Aug 24 | Jun 4 | Nov 25–27 | Dec 21–30 | Mar 15–19 | 28 |
| Linn-Mar Community Schools | Aug 24 | Jun 2 | Nov 25–27 | Dec 21 – Jan 1 | Mar 15–19 | 29 |
| Ottumwa Community School District | Aug 26 | May 27 | Nov 25–27 | Dec 23 – Jan 1 | Mar 15–19 | 17 |
| Southeast Polk Community School District | Aug 24 | May 26 | — | Dec 21 – Jan 1 | Mar 15–19 | 19 |
| Waukee Community School District | Aug 24 | May 28 | Nov 25–27 | Dec 23 – Jan 1 | Apr 15–19 | 20 |
| West Des Moines Community Schools | Aug 24 | May 28 | Nov 25–27 | Dec 21 – Jan 1 | Mar 12–19 | 30 |
Dates come from each district's published calendar and can change. No-school days count weekdays off between the first and last day, not weekends or summer.
Iowa school calendar questions
Do Iowa schools have fall break?
Most don't. Only about 14% of the Iowa districts we track take a fall break, most often Oct 9–12, 2026. For example: Davenport Comm School District, Oct 15–19; Ankeny Community School District, Oct 9–12.
When is Thanksgiving break 2026 in Iowa?
Most often Nov 25–27, 2026: about 75% of the Iowa districts with a Thanksgiving break take it then, and students are back Mon, Nov 30. Other common dates are Nov 26–27. For example: Des Moines Public Schools, Nov 26–27; Davenport Comm School District, Nov 25–30; Iowa City Comm School District, Nov 25–27.
When is winter break 2026 in Iowa?
Most often Dec 21 – Jan 1: about 50% of the Iowa districts with a winter break take it then, and students are back Mon, Jan 4. Other common dates are Dec 23 – Jan 1. For example: Des Moines Public Schools, Dec 21 – Jan 1; Cedar Rapids Comm School District, Dec 23 – Jan 1; Davenport Comm School District, Dec 23 – Jan 4.
When is spring break 2027 in Iowa?
Most often Mar 15–19, 2027: about 50% of the Iowa districts with a spring break take it then, and students are back Mon, Mar 22. Other common dates are Mar 12–19. For example: Des Moines Public Schools, Mar 11–19; Cedar Rapids Comm School District, Mar 15–19; Davenport Comm School District, Mar 15–19.
Do Iowa schools get the whole week of Thanksgiving off?
Most don't: only about 0% of the Iowa districts we track close for the full week. The most common Thanksgiving break is Wed to Fri, Nov 25–27.
How long is winter break in Iowa?
Usually 10 school days, about 2 weeks. The most common winter break runs Dec 21 – Jan 1, and most Iowa students go back Mon, Jan 4.
When does school start in Iowa?
Most often Aug 24, 2026 (about 71% of the Iowa districts we track). Des Moines Public Schools and Iowa City Comm School District start earliest, on Aug 24; Ottumwa Community School District starts latest, on Aug 26.
When is the last day of school in Iowa?
Most often May 28, 2027 (about 36% of the Iowa districts we track). Southeast Polk Community School District finishes earliest, on May 26; Iowa City Comm School District finishes latest, on Jun 4.
Is there school on Washington's Birthday (Presidents' Day) in Iowa?
In most districts, yes: only about 43% of the Iowa districts we track have no school on Washington's Birthday (Presidents' Day) (Mon, Feb 15).
How many days off do Iowa schools have?
About 25 weekdays off on average between the first and last day, counting breaks, holidays and teacher days, not weekends or summer. That's fewer than the 28 we see across all districts we track.
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