January 14, 2026 Update:
Dear Families, Faculty, and Staff,
At its meeting last night, the Hanover County School Board unanimously approved the 2026-27 school year calendar. The approved calendar can be found
on BoardDocs.
Please note that the approved calendar includes the following:
- A staggered start to the school year similar to the past six school years. Students in Kindergarten, First Grade, Sixth Grade, and Ninth Grade would start on Monday, August 24, and all students would go to school on Tuesday, August 25.
- A full week off for students and teachers at Thanksgiving.
- Two full weeks of Winter Break. The last day of school before Winter Break would be Friday, December 18, and students would return on Monday, January 4.
- Spring Break from Monday, March 29 through Friday, April 2.
The 2026-27 calendar was developed by a committee of parents, teachers, and administrators who considered many factors, including the valuable feedback from our families, faculty, and staff.
In response to feedback received as part of the public input process, the Calendar Committee recommended that Friday, October 23 be a student holiday/full clerical day for staff with the option for staff to work from home or school. In the original proposed calendar, Friday, October 23 was a student holiday with professional learning in the morning and clerical in the afternoon for staff. The approved calendar includes this adjustment.
We encourage you to review
the presentation from last night’s meeting for more information on the calendar development process.
Thank you for your engagement throughout the calendar development process and for your continued support. If you have any further questions, please email
[email protected].
Hanover County Public Schools
Original Message
Quick Facts
- The proposed 2026-27 calendar can be found
on BoardDocs.
- Input on the proposed calendar can be provided via
this feedback form, which closes on Monday, December 1.
- The School Board is scheduled to vote on the calendar at its December 9 business meeting.
Full Message/Details
Dear Families, Faculty, and Staff,
We hope you are having a great week. We are writing today with important information and an opportunity for input regarding the 2026-27 school calendar.
At last night’s School Board meeting, the HCPS Calendar Committee presented the proposed calendar for the 2026-27 school year, which can be found on BoardDocs. The proposed calendar includes the following:
- A staggered start to the school year similar to the past six school years. Students in Kindergarten, First Grade, Sixth Grade, and Ninth Grade would start on Monday, August 24, and all students would go to school on Tuesday, August 25.
- A full week off for students and teachers at Thanksgiving.
- Two full weeks of Winter Break. The last day of school before Winter Break would be Friday, December 18, and students would return on Monday, January 4.
- Spring Break from March 29 through April 2.
Answers to commonly asked questions can be found
on BoardDocs.
Families, faculty, staff, and community members are encouraged to provide input and suggestions regarding the proposed 2026-27 calendar.
The public input period opens today and runs through Monday, December 1. Please complete this feedback form to provide your input.
This input will be presented to the School Board in advance of its vote on the calendar, which is scheduled for its regularly scheduled business meeting on Tuesday, December 9.
The proposed calendar was developed by a committee of parents, teachers, support employees, and administrators and in coordination with the other major school divisions in the metro-Richmond area.
Thank you in advance for your engagement and continued support.
Hanover County Public Schools