2020-21 School Year Calendar Dates
Please note there will be changes to 2020 programs due to the COVID-19 school building closures. Seattle Public Schools will link to our Fall 2020 planning information once the information is available. Read about Fall 2020 student reentry scenarios.
The school calendar is negotiated between Seattle Education Association and the district. The School Board adopted the 2020-21 school calendar at the Jan. 22, 2020, board meeting.
First Day of School for Most Students September 2, 2020
For grades 1-12, the first day of school will be Wednesday, September 2, 2020, the first time in many years school will begin before the Labor Day holiday. The first day of Pre-K and kindergarten will be September 8. Family Connections conferences (for incoming kindergarten families) takes place September 2 - 4.
Students are released 75 minutes early every Wednesday, except for the first day of school. This is to support improved teacher collaboration and student academic performance.
August 17 - 21 Jump Start, a sneak peek at school for incoming kindergartners. Read more about Jump Start.
Wednesday, September 2, 2020 First day of school for 1st – 12th grade students (regular school hours apply, no early release)
September 2 – 4 Family Connection Conferences for incoming kindergarten and preschool families. Read more about Family Connections Conferences.
September 7 Labor Day (no school)
September 8 First day of school for kindergarten, all preschool students (three-day delayed start for Family Connections)
October 9 State In-service Day (no school)
November 11 Veterans Day (no school)
November 23 – 25 Elementary conference days (no school for elementary and K-8 students; varies by school)
November 26 – 27 Thanksgiving break (no school) Thanksgiving and Native American Heritage Day
December 18 1-hour early dismissal (winter break)
December 21, 2020 – January 1, 2021 Winter break (no school)
January 18 Martin Luther King Jr. Day (no school)
January 28 Day Between Semesters (no school) (1 of 3 possible snow make-up days)
February 15 – 19 Mid-winter break including Presidents Day (no school)
April 12 – 16 Spring break (no school)
May 31 Memorial Day (no school)
June 18, 2021 Last day of school (1-hour early dismissal) *possible snow make-up days June 21 and 22
Sharing Dates to Web-Calendars
Click the links below to find the web-based calendar for these dates based on school type that you can share to personal web calendars.
Planning for Future School Year Dates
The CBA 2019-22 (Collective Bargaining Agreement) outlines that the calendar will adhere to the following rules:
- First day of school: The first Wednesday in September.
- State In-service Day: As recognized by the state and typically the second Friday in October.
- Winter break: At least 10 weekdays, ending after New Year’s Day. If New Year’s Day
falls or is observed on a Monday, students will return to school on the next
day (Tuesday).
- Mid-winter break: President’s Day and the following four workdays.
- Spring break: Five days starting the second Monday in April.
- Snow make-up days: At least three snow days shall be scheduled, including the day between semesters, and the first two days following the last day of school in June.
- Holidays:
- Labor Day (when school begins before this day in September)
- Veterans Day (November)
- Thanksgiving Day and the day after Thanksgiving (November)
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January)
- Presidents’ Day (February)
- Memorial Day (May)