The Miami-Dade School calendar for 2025-2026 provides essential scheduling information for America’s fourth-largest school district, serving over 350,000 students across elementary, middle, and high schools.
This comprehensive Miami-Dade County Public Schools (MDCPS) academic calendar guide helps families plan vacation time, arrange childcare, and coordinate after-school activities throughout the school year.
Whether you’re searching for Miami-Dade school start dates, holiday schedules, or grading period information, this detailed calendar breakdown ensures you never miss important educational milestones for your student’s academic success.
Miami-Dade School Calendar 2025-2026 Key Highlights:
- First Day of Classes: Thursday, August 14, 2025
- Last Day of School: Thursday, June 4, 2026
- Teacher Planning Days Begin: Monday, August 11, 2025
- Total Instructional Days: 180 days for students
- Technical Education Programs End: Tuesday, July 29, 2026
Table of Contents
Key Academic Year Dates and Timeline
The Miami-Dade school year 2025-2026 officially begins with teacher professional development and planning sessions starting Monday, August 11, 2025. Students across all grade levels from kindergarten through 12th grade return to classrooms on Thursday, August 14, 2025, following the summer break.
Elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools throughout Miami-Dade County follow this standardized schedule, ensuring consistency across the district’s diverse educational programs.
Adult education and technical college programs maintain extended schedules, concluding their academic year on Tuesday, July 29, 2026.
- Teachers have a planning day that is not available to opt, and there are no students in school on Monday, August 11, 2025.
- Teachers have a planning day that is a District-wide Professional Learning Day, not available to opt, and students do not attend school on Tuesday, August 12, 2025.
- Teachers have another non-opt teacher planning day with no students in school on Wednesday, August 13, 2025.
- The first day of school and the beginning of the first semester is on Thursday, August 14, 2025.
- Labor Day is observed as a holiday for both students and employees on Monday, September 1, 2025.
- Teachers have a planning day with no students in school, which is available to opt, on Tuesday, September 23, 2025.
- Another teacher planning day, available to opt and with no students in school, takes place on Thursday, October 2, 2025.
- The first grading period of the first semester ends on Friday, October 17, 2025.
- The second grading period of the first semester begins on Monday, October 20, 2025.
- A District-wide Professional Learning Day, not available to opt, takes place as a teacher planning day with no students in school on Monday, November 3, 2025.
- Veterans Day is a holiday for both students and employees on Tuesday, November 11, 2025.
- Recess days for 10-month and 11.5-month employees occur from Monday, November 24, to Wednesday, November 26, 2025.
- Thanksgiving Day is a Board-approved holiday for students and employees on Thursday, November 27, 2025.
- A recess day for both students and employees is observed on Friday, November 28, 2025.
- Winter recess for students and employees, except those in the Fraternal Order of Police and select 12-month roles, takes place from Monday, December 22, 2025, to Friday, January 2, 2026.
- The second grading period and the first semester conclude on Thursday, January 15, 2026.
- Teachers have a planning day, available to opt and with no students in school, on Friday, January 16, 2026.
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a holiday for students and employees on Monday, January 19, 2026.
- The third grading period and the second semester begin on Tuesday, January 20, 2026.
- Presidents Day is a holiday for students and employees on Monday, February 16, 2026.
- A teacher planning day, available to opt and with no students in school, takes place on Friday, March 20, 2026.
- Miami-Dade Spring Break 2026 for students and employees, excluding the Fraternal Order of Police and some 12-month employees, is scheduled from Monday, March 23, to Friday, March 27, 2026.
- The third grading period of the second semester ends on Thursday, April 2, 2026.
- Teachers have a planning day, available to opt and with no students in school, on Friday, April 3, 2026.
- The fourth grading period of the second semester begins on Monday, April 6, 2026.
- Memorial Day is a holiday for students and employees on Monday, May 25, 2026.
- The last day of school and the end of the fourth grading period and second semester is on Thursday, June 4, 2026.
- A final teacher planning day that is not available to opt takes place on Friday, June 5, 2026.
Semester Structure and Grading Periods
Miami-Dade County Public Schools operates on a four-quarter grading system, providing regular assessment opportunities and progress reports throughout the academic year:
- First Quarter Ends: Friday, October 17, 2025
- Second Quarter Ends: Thursday, January 23, 2026
- Third Quarter Ends: Thursday, April 17, 2026
- Fourth Quarter Ends: Thursday, June 4, 2026
This quarterly grading structure aligns with semester divisions, facilitating consistent report card distribution and parent-teacher conference scheduling.
Elementary and secondary schools follow traditional semester models, while technical education and adult learning programs may utilize trimester systems based on specific program requirements.
Parents can access student progress reports and final grades through the district’s online portal system, ensuring transparent communication between educators and families throughout each grading period.
Miami-Dade School Holiday Calendar 2025-2026
Miami-Dade students and families can plan around these official school holidays and extended breaks:
- Labor Day Holiday: Monday, September 1, 2025 (schools closed)
- Veterans Day: Tuesday, November 11, 2025 (district-wide holiday)
- Thanksgiving Break: Monday, November 24 through Friday, November 28, 2025
- Winter Recess: Monday, December 22, 2025 through Thursday, January 2, 2026
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Monday, January 20, 2026 (schools closed)
- Presidents’ Day: Monday, February 17, 2026 (no classes scheduled)
- Spring Break: Monday, March 23 through Friday, March 27, 2026
- Memorial Day: Monday, May 26, 2026 (observance day)
- Juneteenth: Friday, June 19, 2026 (federal holiday recognition)
These Miami-Dade school holidays provide strategic breaks throughout the academic calendar, allowing families to coordinate travel plans and students to recharge during extended recess periods. The winter break spans nearly two weeks, while spring break offers families a full week for vacation planning.
Professional Development and Teacher Planning Days
Miami-Dade County prioritizes educator professional growth through designated planning and development days:
Mandatory District-Wide PD Days
- Monday, August 12, 2025
- Monday, November 3, 2025
Optional Teacher Planning Days
- Monday, August 11, 2025
- Monday, August 12, 2025
- Wednesday, August 13, 2025
- Monday, September 23, 2025
- Wednesday, October 2, 2025
- Thursday, January 16, 2026
- Thursday, March 20, 2026
- Thursday, April 3, 2026
During these professional development sessions, teachers participate in curriculum planning, educational technology training, and collaborative learning workshops.
Students receive days off during mandatory PD sessions, while optional planning days may vary by individual school sites.
Parents should verify specific school calendars, as some campuses may designate additional planning days based on campus-specific educational needs and administrative requirements.
Weekly Early Dismissal Schedule
Miami-Dade implements a structured early release program to support teacher collaboration and student intervention services:
Weekly Early Release: Every Wednesday
Affected Schools: Elementary schools (grades 2-5) and K-8 centers (grades 2-8)
Dismissal Time: One hour earlier than standard schedule
Standard Schedule: Technical colleges and adult education programs maintain regular hours
This consistent weekly early dismissal allows educators to engage in professional learning communities, data analysis sessions, and individualized student support planning. Parents should coordinate childcare arrangements and after-school programs to accommodate this modified Wednesday schedule.
Individual school sites may implement additional early release or late start days for staff training and curriculum development activities.
Accessing Official Calendar Resources
Elementary and Secondary Calendar PDF: Available through the official Miami-Dade County Public Schools website at dadeschools.net under the “Calendars” section
Technical Education Calendar: Separate PDF available for adult education and technical college programs
Mobile Access: Download the MDCPS mobile app for calendar notifications and updates
Social Media Updates: Follow @miamischools on social platforms for real-time calendar changes
The school board may approve calendar modifications throughout the year due to weather emergencies, facility issues, or other unforeseen circumstances.
Parents should subscribe to district alert systems and regularly check official communication channels for the most current scheduling information.
Family Planning Tips and Strategies
Maximize your family’s school year success with these practical calendar management approaches:
Vacation Planning: Coordinate family trips during scheduled breaks, particularly the extended winter recess (December 22, 2025 – January 2, 2026) and spring break (March 23-27, 2026).
Academic Preparation: Mark grading period end dates on family calendars to prepare for report cards, parent-teacher conferences, and honor roll recognition opportunities.
Childcare Coordination: Arrange alternative supervision for Wednesday early release days and teacher professional development dates when students are dismissed.
Extracurricular Scheduling: Utilize half-days and early release periods for music lessons, sports activities, tutoring sessions, and enrichment programs.
Technology Integration: Set smartphone reminders for important dates, including teacher planning days, student holidays, and grading period deadlines.
Miami-Dade School calendar Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Miami-Dade school year begin in 2025?
Classes start on Thursday, August 14, 2025, with teacher planning beginning Monday, August 11, 2025.
How many instructional days are included in the 2025-2026 academic year?
Students attend 180 instructional days, with an additional 11 teacher planning and professional development days built into the calendar.
What are the major holiday breaks for Miami-Dade students?
Key breaks include Thanksgiving week (November 24-28), winter recess (December 22 – January 2), and spring break (March 23-27).
Where can families download the official Miami-Dade school calendar?
Official PDF calendars for elementary, secondary, and technical programs are available on the Miami-Dade County Public Schools website under the “Calendars” section.
Do all Miami-Dade schools follow the same early release schedule?
Elementary schools (grades 2-5) and K-8 centers (grades 2-8) dismiss one hour early every Wednesday. Technical colleges and adult education programs maintain standard schedules.
Where can families download the official Miami-Dade school calendar?
Official PDF calendars for elementary, secondary, and technical programs are available on the Miami-Dade County Public Schools website under the “Calendars” section.
Do all Miami-Dade schools follow the same early release schedule?
Elementary schools (grades 2-5) and K-8 centers (grades 2-8) dismiss one hour early every Wednesday. Technical colleges and adult education programs maintain standard schedules.
When is the last day of school for the 2025-2026 academic year?
The final day of classes is Thursday, June 4, 2026, for elementary and secondary students. Technical and adult education programs conclude on July 29, 2026.
This comprehensive Miami-Dade school calendar guide ensures families stay informed about critical academic dates, helping students achieve educational success throughout the 2025-2026 school year.
