The Chicago Board of Education on Thursday approved the academic calendars for the next two school years without adjusting the end of an academic quarter so it ends before winter break, as some board members had suggested considering.The first day of school next fall is set for Aug. 24, and the last day will be on June 11, 2027. It’s the sixth straight year in which the district kicks off classes before Labor Day.The district unveiled the calendars last month and presented them at a CPS board meeting but sought further feedback from community members after board members raised questions about the timing around winter break and the end of the second quarter.The second academic quarter ends after the break, on Jan. 22, 2027. Board members were concerned that students, particularly high schoolers, wouldn’ t be able to reset and wind down during their vacation because they’d be worried about coming back to end-of-quarter tests.In response, the district opened a survey from Jan. 21 through Jan. 27 to ask community members to choose between three calendar options: the one recommended by the district and two that would have started classes earlier in August to complete the second quarter before winter break.Nicole Milberg, CPS chief of teaching and learning, presented the findings at a board meeting earlier this month. More than 22,000 people responded, and 55% preferred the original schedule recommended by the district, she said.Milberg acknowledged at that meeting that not everyone will be satisfied with the schedule.“There is no perfect calendar, no matter how many times we go to the drawing board. There will never be a calendar that meets every stakeholder's preferences,” Milberg said.The schedule allows students to enjoy their typical number of summer vacation days after last year’s shortened break of just 67 days. The last day of the current school year is on June 4, resulting in 81 days of vacation before classes begin again in late August.School started later in the 2024-25 academic year because of the Democratic National Convention, resulting in a shorter break. In summer 2024, students also had 81 days of break.For the 2026-2027 school year students will continue to get a week off for Thanksgiving break, as well as a day off for the congressional midterm elections on Nov. 3.Winter break is scheduled for Dec. 21 through Jan. 1, 2027, while spring break will be from March 22-26, 2027.The start of the 2027-2028 school year is set for Aug. 23, 2027, and the last day will be on June 9, 2028.Each of the newly approved calendars add up to 176 student attendance days, with 14 non-student attendance days for staff training, school improvement work and parent-teacher conferences. The Chicago Public Schools calendar for the 2026-27 academic year. ...read more read less