BCPS Calendar 2025-2026: Your Complete Academic Year Guide

The Baltimore County Public Schools, BCPS Calendar 2025-2026 represents the official academic schedule for Maryland’s third-largest school district, serving over 115,000 students across 173 schools.

This Baltimore County school calendar outlines 183 student instructional days and 194 teacher duty days, ensuring quality education delivery throughout the academic year.

Parents, students, educators, and community members rely on the BCPS academic calendar 2025-26 for planning family vacations, childcare arrangements, and professional development opportunities.

The BCPS calendar strategically begins before Labor Day to maximize instructional time and includes carefully planned breaks that align with federal holidays and Maryland state requirements.

Key Start and End Dates for BCPS 2025-2026 School Year

First Day of School and Orientation Schedule

• Teacher Orientation & Professional Development: Monday, August 25, 2025
• First Day of School for Students: Wednesday, August 27, 2025
• Labor Day Holiday: Monday, September 1, 2025 (Schools Closed)

The pre-Labor Day start date ensures students benefit from complete instructional weeks without interruption, maximizing learning opportunities throughout the fall semester.

Important Mid-Year Milestones

• Veterans Day Observance: Tuesday, November 11, 2025 (Schools Closed)
• Thanksgiving Break: Wednesday, November 26 – Friday, November 28, 2025
• Winter Break Begins: Monday, December 22, 2025
• Classes Resume After Winter Break: Monday, January 5, 2026
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Monday, January 19, 2026 (Schools Closed)
• Presidents’ Day: Monday, February 16, 2026 (Schools Closed)

End of Year Schedule

• Spring Break: Monday, April 6 – Friday, April 10, 2026
• Senior Last Day: Monday, May 19, 2026
• Last Day for All Students: Tuesday, June 10, 2026
• Teacher Work Day: Wednesday, June 11, 2026
• Potential Weather Makeup Days: Through Thursday, June 18, 2026

Baltimore County Public Schools Calendar 2025-2026

1. There will be an administrative and supervisory personnel meeting on Friday, August 15, 2025.
2. Teachers and school-based staff report for duty on Monday, August 18, 2025.
3. Systemwide professional development activities will take place on Tuesday, August 19, 2025.
4. Teachers will have a classroom preparation day on Wednesday, August 20, 2025.
5. Orientation for students entering grades 6 and 9 will occur on Thursday, August 21, 2025.
6. Teachers will have another classroom preparation day on Friday, August 22, 2025.
7. The opening day for students is scheduled for Monday, August 25, 2025.
8. Kindergarten students will have their first full day with transportation service beginning on Wednesday, August 27, 2025.
9. Schools and offices will be closed for Labor Day on Monday, September 1, 2025.
10. A systemwide professional development day will be held on Tuesday, September 23, 2025.
11. Another systemwide professional development day is scheduled for Thursday, October 2, 2025.
12. Columbus Day, also observed as Indigenous Peoples’ Day, will be observed on Monday, October 13, 2025.
13. Schools will be closed for ESPBC-represented employees on Friday, October 17, 2025.
14. A systemwide professional development day will occur on Monday, October 20, 2025, which is also Diwali.
15. The first marking period will end, and all schools will close three hours early for students on Friday, October 31, 2025.
16. Veterans Day will be observed with schools and offices closed on Tuesday, November 11, 2025.
17. Report cards will be distributed on Thursday, November 13, 2025.
18. American Education Week will be celebrated from Monday, November 17, to Friday, November 21, 2025.
19. PK3 and PK4 conference day, with no sessions for those grades and teachers on duty, will take place on Monday, November 17, 2025.
20. PK3, PK4, and elementary conference day will be held on Tuesday, November 18, 2025.
21. Schools and offices will be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday, November 27, and Friday, November 28, 2025.
22. Winter break begins at the end of the school day on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, and continues through Friday, January 2, 2026.
23. Schools will reopen following winter break on Monday, January 5, 2026.
24. The second marking period will end, and all schools will close three hours early for students on Friday, January 16, 2026.
25. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day will be observed with schools and offices closed on Monday, January 19, 2026.
26. Report cards will be distributed on Thursday, January 29, 2026.
27. Presidents’ Day, also known as Washington’s Birthday, will be observed with schools and offices closed on Monday, February 16, 2026.
28. Schools and offices will be closed for Lunar New Year on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
29. A systemwide professional development day is scheduled for Friday, March 20, 2026, and schools will be closed for students.
30. Maryland Day will be observed on Wednesday, March 25, 2026.
31. The third marking period will end, and all schools will close three hours early for students on Wednesday, April 1, 2026.
32. Schools will reopen after spring break on Monday, April 13, 2026.
33. Report cards will be distributed on Thursday, April 23, 2026.
34. PK3, PK4, and Kindergarten Conference Day with no sessions for those grades will occur on Friday, April 24, 2026.
35. PK3 and PK4 Conference Day with no sessions will be held on Monday, April 27, 2026.
36. The last day for seniors is scheduled for Friday, May 22, 2026.
37. Memorial Day will be observed with schools and offices closed on Monday, May 25, 2026.
38. Commencement exercises will be held from Tuesday, May 26, to Wednesday, May 27, 2026.
39. A systemwide professional development day will occur on Thursday, May 28, 2026, and schools will be closed for students.
40. Additional commencement exercises are scheduled for Friday, May 29, to Saturday, May 30, 2026.
41. Commencement exercises will continue from Monday, June 1, to Saturday, June 6, 2026.
42. A final commencement exercise will be held on Monday, June 8, 2026.
43. An assessment day for all grade levels will be a full instructional day on Friday, June 12, 2026.
44. An assessment day with schools closing three hours early for students is scheduled for Monday, June 15, 2026.
45. The last day of classes is scheduled for Tuesday, June 16, 2026, which is also an assessment day.
46. Juneteenth will be observed with schools and offices closed on Friday, June 19, 2026.
47. Summer school employees will report for duty on Thursday, July 2, 2026.
48. Independence Day will be observed with schools and offices closed on Friday, July 3, 2026.
49. Summer school begins on Monday, July 6, 2026.
50. Summer school ends on Friday, July 31, 2026.

BCPS Holiday Schedule and School Breaks 2025-2026

The Baltimore County Public Schools holiday calendar incorporates all federal holidays, Maryland state observances, and culturally significant dates to support the district’s diverse student population.

Fall Semester Breaks

• Labor Day Weekend: Monday, September 1, 2025
• Thanksgiving Week: Wednesday, November 26 – Friday, November 28, 2025
• Winter Holiday Break: Monday, December 22, 2025 – Friday, January 2, 2026

Spring Semester Breaks

• Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Monday, January 19, 2026
• Presidents’ Day: Monday, February 16, 2026
• Spring Break: Monday, April 6 – Friday, April 10, 2026
• Memorial Day: Monday, May 26, 2026 (after student dismissal)

Cultural and Religious Observances

BCPS recognizes diverse religious and cultural celebrations with designated in-service days, allowing staff professional development while respecting community traditions including Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Diwali, and other significant observances.

Professional Development and Teacher In-Service Days

Baltimore County Public Schools prioritizes educator professional growth through strategically scheduled development days that enhance instructional quality without reducing student learning time.

System-Wide Professional Development Days

• Fall PD Day: Friday, October 10, 2025 (Students Off)
• Spring PD Day: Thursday, March 13, 2026 (Students Off)

Elementary and Pre-K Conference Days

• Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences: Friday, November 14, 2025
• Spring Parent-Teacher Conferences: Friday, March 20, 2026

Additional In-Service Opportunities

• Post-Labor Day Planning: Tuesday, September 2, 2025
• End-of-Year Wrap-Up: Wednesday, June 11, 2026

These 194 total teacher duty days exceed the 180-day state minimum, demonstrating BCPS commitment to educator preparation and student success.

Early Dismissal Days and Weather-Related Policies

Scheduled Early Release Days

BCPS implements strategic early dismissal days to facilitate grade reporting conferences and collaborative planning:

• Fall Early Dismissal: Thursday, October 30, 2025
  • Elementary Schools: 12:45 PM dismissal
  • Middle and High Schools: 1:30 PM dismissal
• Winter Early Dismissal: Wednesday, January 29, 2026
  • Elementary Schools: 12:45 PM dismissal
  • Middle and High Schools: 1:30 PM dismissal
• Spring Early Dismissal: Thursday, May 28, 2026
  • Elementary Schools: 12:45 PM dismissal
  • Middle and High Schools: 1:30 PM dismissal

Inclement Weather Makeup Policy

BCPS maintains three designated weather makeup days to address potential closures:

1. First Makeup Day: Monday, February 17, 2026
2. Second Makeup Day: Monday, March 31, 2026
3. Third Makeup Day: Wednesday, June 11, 2026

After utilizing three makeup days, BCPS activates virtual learning protocols with pre-assigned digital curriculum ensuring continuity of education without extending the school year beyond Thursday, June 18, 2026.

BCPS Graduation and Commencement Ceremonies 2026

Senior Year Milestones

• Senior Last Day: Monday, May 19, 2026
• Graduation Season: Tuesday, May 20 – Wednesday, May 28, 2026

Regional Graduation Schedule

Baltimore County Public Schools organizes graduation ceremonies by geographic regions, with each high school assigned specific dates during the graduation week.

Families can access the detailed “BCPS Graduation Ceremony Dates 2026” PDF through the district website, filtering by school name or regional cluster.

The week-long graduation schedule allows adequate preparation time for venues, accommodates family travel, and ensures each graduating class receives proper recognition for their academic achievements.

How to Access and Subscribe to BCPS Calendar 2025-2026

Digital Calendar Options

PDF Download: Visit the official BCPS calendar page and click “Download Academic Calendar PDF” for a printable version suitable for home and office use.

Google Calendar Integration: Subscribe to automatic updates using the BCPS iCal feed:

1. Copy the iCal subscription URL from bcps.org/calendars
2. Open Google Calendar on desktop
3. Click “+” next to “Other calendars”
4. Select “From URL” and paste the BCPS link
5. Click “Add calendar” for automatic synchronization

Outlook Calendar Sync:

1. Copy the same iCal URL
2. Open Outlook Calendar
3. Go to “Open Calendar” > “From Internet”
4. Paste the BCPS calendar URL
5. Enable automatic updates

Mobile Device Setup: Tap the “Subscribe to Calendar” link on your smartphone to add BCPS dates directly to your default calendar application.

Printable Resources

• Wall Calendar: Download high-resolution calendar images for classroom and home display
• Magnetic Calendars: Order complimentary refrigerator magnets through the BCPS calendar office
• Pocket Calendars: Request compact versions for student planners and employee handbooks

Frequently Asked Questions About BCPS Calendar 2025-2026

Contact Information and Additional Calendar Resources

BCPS Calendar Office

• Phone: (443) 809-5550
• Email: calendar@bcps.org
• Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
• Address: 6901 Charles Street, Towson, MD 21204

Digital Resources

• Official Calendar Page: bcps.org/calendars
• Mobile App: Download “BCPS Mobile” for iOS and Android
• Board Meeting Schedule: View calendar revision dates at bcps.org/board
• Parent Resources: Access printable materials at bcps.org/calendar-resources

Emergency Communication Channels

• BCPS Alert System: Sign up for SMS and email notifications
• Social Media Updates: Follow @BCPSNews on Twitter for real-time information
• Local News Partnerships: Monitor WBAL, WJZ, and FOX45 for weather-related announcements
• District Website: bcps.org features prominent closure announcements

The Baltimore County Public Schools Calendar 2025-2026 serves as more than a scheduling tool—it represents a commitment to educational excellence, community engagement, and student success.

Whether you’re a returning family or new to the Baltimore County school system, bookmark the official calendar page, subscribe to digital updates, and connect with your school’s communication channels to stay current with all important dates and announcements throughout the 2025-2026 academic year.