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Tuesday, November 3, 2026Nov 3

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Hamilton County school district sets 2027-28 academic calendar

Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter/ The Hamilton County Department of Education is seen on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026.
Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter/ The Hamilton County Department of Education is seen on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter/ The Hamilton County Department of Education is seen on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026.

Families can now make plans for the 2027-28 academic year after the Hamilton County Board of Education set the school calendar.

Board members voted unanimously Thursday to approve the calendar.

The first semester, with 84 days, will run from Aug. 11 to Dec. 17 for students. School-based in-service days for staff will start Aug. 5, and fall break runs Oct. 11-15.

The second semester, with 96 days, will run from Jan. 5 to May 25. Spring break is March 13-17.

(READ MORE: Hamilton County school librarians defend role after lawmakers pass bill expanding licensure eligibility)

Students will also have Monday — and Tuesday in the case of winter break — off after each of the major holiday breaks for a teacher in-service day. The days before winter and spring breaks, as well as the last day of school, are half days.

On Thursday, school board member Steve Slater, R-Soddy-Daisy, made a motion to rename the spring holiday on April 14, 2028, to Good Friday.

“That day is significant,” he said. “It’s not a spring holiday. That’s just my point.”

Board members unanimously approved the change.

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The board approved next school year’s calendar roughly a year ago. The first semester, with 89 days, will run from Aug. 5 to Dec. 18 for students. School-based in-service days for staff will start July 30, and fall break is Oct. 12-16.

The second semester, with 91 days, will run from Jan. 6 to May 19. Spring break is March 22-26.

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Contact education reporter Shannon Coan at scoan@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6396.