MANCHESTER — Students in Clay County will return to the classroom later than usual for the 2026-27 school year after the Board of Education approved a new academic calendar at a recent meeting.
The first day of school for students is set for August 13, approximately a week later than the district’s traditional start date.
Clay County Schools Superintendent William Sexton said the calendar was designed to balance instructional time while also allowing flexibility for events and potential weather-related closures.
“We try to build a calendar that meets state requirements but also works for our students, families and staff,” Sexton said. “This schedule gives us some flexibility throughout the year, especially when it comes to make-up days and planning ahead for possible winter weather.”
The calendar includes several scheduled days off tied to local events and holidays. Students will be out of school on September 4 for the Manchester Music Festival and again on September 7 in observance of Labor Day.
Fall Break will be observed on October 8-9, giving students a two-day break in early October. Classes will also be dismissed on November 2-3 for a planning day and Election Day.
Thanksgiving Break is scheduled for November 26-27, followed by Christmas Break from December 21 through January 1.
Students will return in January before another scheduled day off on January 18 in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Spring break will look different this year, with built-in flexibility depending on weather conditions. The district has scheduled March 22-24 as potential make-up days if cancellations occur during the winter months. The official Spring Break is set for March 25-26, though Sexton said the break could be expanded to a full week if those make-up days are not needed.
“We wanted to give ourselves options,” Sexton said. “If we don’t miss many days due to weather, students and staff could benefit from a longer spring break. If we do have cancellations, we already have those make-up days built in.”
The final day of school for students is scheduled for May 12.
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