Denver Public Schools Calendar for 2025-2026: The K‑12 school year starts with a staggered entry on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025, has the first full day on Wednesday, Aug. 20, and ends with the last day of school for students on Thursday, May 28, 2026, and ends with teacher post-planning on Friday, May 29. Winter Break is Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, to Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, with students returning after the holiday on Monday, Jan. 5, a professional learning day.
Spring Break is March 30 through April 3, 2026, and the major holidays observed by the district are Labor Day (Sept. 1), Thanksgiving (Nov. 27), MLK Day (Jan. 19), Presidents’ Day (Feb. 16), Cesar Chavez Day (March 31), Memorial Day (May 25) and Juneteenth (June 19). The summer vacation period starts with summer break on May 29, 2026, and continues until the second pre‑planning of the next school year in late August.
Schools Calendar 2025-26
Denver Public Schools Calendar 2025-26 PDF
site credit: @www.dpsk12.org
Denver Public Schools Calendar 2025-2026
| Event | Dates |
|---|---|
| First Day of School | Monday, August 18, 2025 |
| Thanksgiving Break | Monday, November 24 – Friday, November 28, 2025 |
| Winter Break | Monday, December 22, 2025 – Monday, January 5, 2026 |
| Students Return | Tuesday, January 6, 2026 |
| MLK Jr. Day Holiday | Monday, January 19, 2026 |
| Presidents’ Day Holiday | Monday, February 16, 2026 |
| Cesar Chavez Day Holiday | Tuesday, March 31, 2026 |
| Spring Break | Monday, March 30 – Friday, April 3, 2026 |
| Memorial Day Holiday | Monday, May 25, 2026 |
| Last Day of School | Friday, May 29, 2026 |
| Summer Break Begins | Saturday, May 30, 2026 |
| Juneteenth Holiday | Friday, June 19, 2026 |
Denver Public Schools Calendar 25-26: (DPS) is the biggest school system in the state of Colorado, operating more than 200 schools and offering education to over 90,000 Students. DPS is also a diverse school district with a large number of students of color in the city and county of Denver, whose mission is equity and academic success. The district has a great variety of educational opportunities: neighborhood schools, magnet programs, innovation schools, and charter schools. DPS offers advanced placement (AP) courses and career and technical education (CTE), and high school careers, as well as dual enrollment.
2025-2026 Academic Calendar – Denver Public Schools(DPS): is equally committed to serving the entire child using social-emotional learning, mental health services, and inclusive education practices. A second element of the district approach is the component of bilingual and multicultural education, which takes the form of the numerous cultural backgrounds of the students. Community Advocacy and Partnership The district is engaged in constant efforts to ensure that there is no opportunity gap in the D.C. district, and the student outcomes are driven by partnership programs organized within the communities. Denver Public Schools is a district with the mission to guarantee every child prospers so that all learners get a safe and encouraging learning climate that is of high quality.
Denver Public Schools Holidays 2025-2026
| Holiday / Break | Date(s) |
|---|---|
| Labor Day | Monday, September 1, 2025 |
| Thanksgiving Break | Monday, November 24 – Friday, November 28, 2025 |
| Winter Break | Monday, December 22, 2025 – Monday, January 5, 2026 |
| New Year’s Day | Thursday, January 1, 2026 |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Monday, January 19, 2026 |
| Presidents’ Day | Monday, February 16, 2026 |
| Cesar Chavez Day | Tuesday, March 31, 2026 |
| Spring Break | Monday, March 30 – Friday, April 3, 2026 |
| Memorial Day | Monday, May 25, 2026 |
| Juneteenth | Friday, June 19, 2026 |
Denver Public Schools 2025-26 Teacher Workdays Calendar
| Date | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| August 11–15, 2025 | Teacher Report Days (pre-school prep) | Staff preparation before school year begins. |
| August 18, 2025 | First Day of School; partial planning | First day for all students; early dismissal. |
| October 13, 2025 | Planning/Professional Development Day | Staff development and planning day. |
| December 19, 2025 | Teacher Planning Day | End of semester planning and preparation. |
| January 5, 2026 | Planning/Professional Development Day | Start of third quarter planning and development. |
| March 9, 2026 | Planning/Professional Development Day | Start of fourth quarter planning and development. |
| May 29, 2026 | Last Student Day; afternoon PD | Final day for students; afternoon professional development for staff. |
| June 1–2, 2026 | Teacher Planning & Wrap-up | Post-school year planning and preparation. |
Denver Public Schools 2025–2026 Bell and Period Schedules
| School Name | Grade Level | Start Time | End Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Early College | 6th–9th | 8:20 AM | 3:35 PM | 6th–9th Grade Bell Schedule: 1st Period 8:20–9:12 AM, 2nd Period 9:15–10:07 AM, 3rd Period 10:10–11:02 AM. |
| Denver School of the Arts | High School | 8:20 AM | 3:50 PM | Black Day Schedule: Period 1 8:20–9:55 AM, Period 3 10:00–11:35 AM, Lunch 11:45–12:30 PM, Period 5 12:35–2:10 PM, Period 7 2:15–3:50 PM. |
| John F. Kennedy High School | High School | 8:00 AM | 3:50 PM | Commander Days (Mon, Tues, Fri): Class ends at 3:50 PM. |
| Manual High School | High School | 8:20 AM | 3:50 PM | Bell Schedule: Period 1 8:20–9:55 AM, Period 3 10:00–11:35 AM, Lunch 11:45–12:30 PM, Period 5 12:35–2:10 PM, Period 7 2:15–3:50 PM. |
| Contemporary Learning Academy | High School | 8:25 AM | 3:18 PM | Quarter 1: Aug 18–Oct 17, Quarter 2: Oct 20–Jan 16, Quarter 3: Jan 20–Mar 20. |
| Montbello High School | High School | 8:20 AM | 3:50 PM | Bell Schedule: Period 1 8:20–9:05 AM, Period 2 9:10–9:55 AM, Lunch 11:40–12:35 PM, Period 6 1:25–2:10 PM, Period 8 3:05–3:50 PM. |
| Northfield High School | High School | 8:20 AM | 3:50 PM | Bell Schedule: Period 1 8:20–9:55 AM, Period 3 10:00–11:35 AM, Lunch 11:45–12:30 PM, Period 5 12:35–2:10 PM, Period 7 2:15–3:50 PM. |
FAQs
Q: When does the school year start and end?
A: A DPS school year in 2025-2026 will take place between Monday, August 18, 2025, and Friday, May 29, 2026.
Q: How can I enroll my child in Denver Public Schools?
A: The SchoolChoice process is a way to apply to any Denver Public School, and a family does not have to be in the neighborhood to enroll. Filing of the application is online through the enrollment window.
Q: Does DPS offer transportation services?
A: Yes, DPS offers a bus ride to deserving students according to distance, level of grade level, and the school program. Some eligibility criteria exist and vary with schools.
Q: Are meals provided for students?
A: Admittedly, DPS provides free or subsidized meals depending on the family’s income. Universal free lunch programs are also contained in many schools.
Q: What support does DPS provide for English Language Learners?
A: One of the most common purposes of DPS is English Language Development (ELD), which involves English-speaking support and instruction of non-native speakers in many schools.