August 2026
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
- First Day of School for Students
Highlands County School Calendar 2026-2027
The School Board of Highlands County calendar starts August 11, 2026, and ends May 27, 2027. Winter break: December 23–January 6; January 7–8 may be make-up days.
The School Board of Highlands County schedules Thanksgiving break for November 21–29, and spring break is March 13–21. There are six two-hour early-release dates. Students are due back January 11 after winter break unless January 7–8 are used for hurricane make-up.
Official calendar checked Official district source
Key Dates
| Event | Date(s) | Status |
|---|---|---|
| First Day of School for Students | School opens | |
| Labor Day (No School) | No classes | |
| Student Holiday and Teacher Workday | Student holiday announced | |
| Thanksgiving Break | through | No school |
| Winter Break | through | No school |
| Winter Break | through | No school |
| Student Holiday and Teacher Workday | If needed | |
| Student Holiday / Staff Professional Development | If needed | |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day (No School) | No classes | |
| Student Holiday / Teacher Workday | No classes | |
| Spring Break | through | No school |
| Holiday | No classes | |
| Holiday (Possible Hurricane Make-Up Day) | If needed | |
| Last Day of School | School closes |
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Early Release
| Event | Date(s) |
|---|---|
| Two-Hour Early Release | Aug 2026: Sep 2026: Oct 2026: |
| Early Release | Dec 2026: Feb 2027: May 2027: |
Extended Time Off
| Period | Date(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving holiday Window | Nov 21 – 29, 2026Scheduled no school: Nov 23 – 27, 2026Adjacent weekends: Nov 21 – 22, 2026; Nov 28 – 29, 2026 | 9 days |
| Winter break and January student holidays (make-up days possible) Window | Dec 23, 2026 – Jan 10, 2027Scheduled no school: Dec 23 – 25, 2026; Dec 28, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027; Jan 4 – 8, 2027Adjacent weekends: Dec 26 – 27, 2026; Jan 2 – 3, 2027; Jan 9 – 10, 2027Possible make-up days: Jan 7 – 8, 2027. Attendance may change; confirm district updates. | 19 days |
| Spring break Window | Mar 13 – 21, 2027Scheduled no school: Mar 15 – 19, 2027Adjacent weekends: Mar 13 – 14, 2027; Mar 20 – 21, 2027 | 9 days |
Other Important Dates
| Event | Date(s) |
|---|---|
| Progress Reports Go Home | |
| End of First Nine Weeks | |
| Report Card Distribution Window The calendar gives a distribution window; confirm your school’s release day or online availability. | through |
| Progress Reports Go Home | |
| Grading Period Ends / Semester Ends Students attend school with dismissal two hours early. This date ends the second nine weeks and the first semester. December 22 is expressly exempt from full-day conversion under the hurricane make-up plan. | |
| Report Card Distribution Window This is a reporting window, not daily report-card delivery or a change to attendance. It spans a weekend and the January 18 holiday; check your school’s release date or online availability. | through |
| Progress Reports Two-hour early release and progress-report distribution share this date. Students attend school, but the hurricane make-up plan allows the early release to be converted to a full day. | |
| End of Third Nine Weeks | |
| Report Card Distribution Window The district lists March 29–31 and April 1–2 as adjacent report-card dates. They are combined here into one distribution window, not five separate report-card releases. This window does not mean classes are canceled.Calculated from calendar | through |
| Progress Reports Go Home | |
| Grading Period Ends The final regular student day also ends the fourth nine weeks. Schools dismiss two hours early. May 27 is expressly exempt from full-day conversion under the hurricane make-up plan. |
Month by month
Monthly Calendar
Highlighted dates follow the published calendar; grouped or inferred entries are labelled. Today is determined in Eastern Time (America/New_York).
- School Day
- Weekend
- Holiday (No School)
- School Break
- First / Last Day
- Important Date
- Conditional attendance
September 2026
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
- Labor Day (No School)
October 2026
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
- Student Holiday and Teacher Workday Student holiday announced; historical make-up designation.
November 2026
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
- Thanksgiving Break
December 2026
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
- Winter Break
January 2027
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
- Winter Break
- Student Holiday and Teacher Workday If needed; attendance may change.
- Student Holiday / Staff Professional Development If needed; attendance may change.
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day (No School)
February 2027
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
- Student Holiday / Teacher Workday
March 2027
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
- Spring Break
- Holiday
April 2027
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
- Holiday (Possible Hurricane Make-Up Day) If needed; attendance may change.
May 2027
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
- Last Day of School — Two-Hour Early Release
About School Board of Highlands County
The regular Highlands County school year began Tuesday, August 11, 2026, for students across Sebring, Avon Park and Lake Placid. The last student day is Thursday, May 27, 2027, with a two-hour early release. Thanksgiving break runs November 21–29, and spring break is March 13–21. March 26 is a separate school holiday, with regular classes scheduled March 22–25.
Winter break runs from December 23, 2026, through January 6, 2027. Students have a two-hour early release on December 22. January 7 and 8 are separate student holidays, but the district may use them as hurricane make-up days. If neither is activated, classes resume Monday, January 11. Check district notices before making plans that depend on those two dates.
The district scheduled six two-hour early releases: August 26, September 23, October 15 and December 22, 2026, plus February 11 and May 27, 2027. Under the original hurricane make-up plan, August 26, September 23, October 15 and February 11 were designated for possible conversion to full school days. The first three dates have passed; February 11 remains upcoming as of October 23, 2026. December 22 and May 27 are excluded from the conversion rule. Dismissal times vary by school.
October 16 was included in the original make-up plan, but the district announced it as a student holiday. April 23 and January 7–8 remain possible make-up days under the printed plan. The district also lists report-card distribution windows rather than a single release date for every school.
Common questions
FAQs
When does school start in Highlands County for 2026-2027?
The first day of school for students is Tuesday, August 11, 2026. This date comes from the School Board of Highlands County's regular student calendar. Individual schools provide their own arrival, orientation and bus information.
When is the last day of school in Highlands County in 2027?
Thursday, May 27, 2027, is the last student day. Schools have a two-hour early release that day, which also marks the end of the fourth nine-week grading period. May 28 is a teacher workday, not another student attendance day.
When is Thanksgiving break for Highlands County schools in 2026?
Thanksgiving break runs November 21–29, 2026, including both weekends. Students have no classes Monday, November 23, through Friday, November 27. Classes are scheduled to resume Monday, November 30.
When is winter break for Highlands County schools in 2026-2027?
The district's official winter break is December 23, 2026, through January 6, 2027. December 22 is still a school day, with dismissal two hours early. January 7–8 are separate student holidays, not part of the dates officially labeled Winter Break.
When is spring break for Highlands County schools in 2027?
Spring break runs March 13–21, 2027, including both weekends. Students have no classes March 15–19 and are scheduled to return Monday, March 22.
What are the two-hour early-release dates for Highlands County schools in 2026-2027?
The six dates are August 26, September 23, October 15 and December 22, 2026, followed by February 11 and May 27, 2027. The original hurricane plan identified August 26, September 23, October 15 and February 11 as possible full-day conversion dates. December 22 and May 27 are exempt. Of the eligible dates, only February 11 remains upcoming as of October 23, 2026.
How does Highlands County make up school days missed because of hurricanes?
The district's printed plan first allows eligible two-hour early releases to become full school days, excluding December 22 and May 27. It then lists October 16, April 23 and finally January 7–8 as possible additional attendance days. October 16 has already passed and was announced as a student holiday. As of October 23, 2026, February 11, January 7–8 and April 23 remain future dates that could be affected by district make-up decisions. These changes are not automatic.
Does Highlands County have a fall break in October 2026?
The district did not schedule a week-long fall break. Students had a planned two-hour early release on October 15, followed by a student holiday on October 16. The district also issued a no-school reminder for October 16. Although that date appeared in the original hurricane make-up plan, it is now a historical contingency, not a pending schedule change.
About This Calendar
Data source & handling: The supplied one-page Highlands County 2026-2027 PDF is the annual date source. A complete district calendar image published with Sebring High’s May 18 announcement was also reviewed and agrees with its dates, legend, approval and make-up rules. Direct Google downloads timed out, so remote PDF byte identity has not been established. Current available official News and Live Feed content provides school-specific schedule context. Dates are collected from district materials and organized into key dates, monthly calendars and calendar subscriptions. Visit Highlands County Schools’s official website.
Disclaimer: This independent reference follows the district’s regular student calendar and its published hurricane contingencies. Confirm individual school/program arrangements, bus schedules and senior requirements directly. Clock times are local Eastern Time.
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