The school calendar of NYC 2025-2026 is to start on Thursday, September 4, 2025, and end on Friday, June 26, 2026. After carrying out the academic year, summer break is held from late June up to the beginning of September so that the students can enjoy a complete holiday to rest before the new scholastic year. The winter break will include Wednesday, December 24, 2025, to Thursday, January 1, 2026, so that in this way, families can spend the winter holidays and the New Year together. Other important holidays, such as Thanksgiving (November 27-28, 2025), Midwinter Recess (February 16-20, 2026), and Spring Recess (April 10-17, 2026), are also celebrated.
NYC School Calendar 2025-2026
| Event | Date(s) |
|---|---|
| First Day of School | Thursday, September 4, 2025 |
| Rosh Hashanah (Schools Closed) | Monday, September 29, 2025 |
| Yom Kippur (Schools Closed) | Wednesday, October 8, 2025 |
| Thanksgiving Break | Thursday, November 27 – Friday, November 28, 2025 |
| Winter Recess | Wednesday, December 24, 2025 – Thursday, January 1, 2026 |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Monday, January 19, 2026 |
| Midwinter Recess | Monday, February 16 – Friday, February 20, 2026 |
| Spring Recess | Monday, April 6 – Friday, April 10, 2026 |
| Memorial Day (Schools Closed) | Monday, May 25, 2026 |
| Last Day of School | Friday, June 26, 2026 |
| Summer Break Begins | Saturday, June 27, 2026 |
New York City (NYC) is home to the biggest public school system in the United States, administered by the New York City Department of Education. It provides education to more than one million students in its more than 1,800 schools at the pre-kindergarten through high school level. The school district is subdivided into 32 community school districts that oversee the elementary and middle schools, which are publicly funded. High schools are run on a system on citywide basis. The NYC schools offer a multifaceted course that shows academic, arts, physical education, and special education services to all the students to have a rounded type of education. Specialized programming used in the city includes gifted and talented, dual language, and career and technical education (CTE).
NYC schools tend to ensure equal opportunities to learn when it comes to the diversity of students who represent different cultures and backgrounds. The system consists of conventional public schools, charter schools, Magnet schools, and specialized high schools such as Stuyvesant and Bronx Science that take admissions tests. The school year usually starts in September and ends in June, with long holidays and winter recess. The NYC Department of Education never stops focusing on safety in schools, better mental health, and technology in classes. Parents, student support services, and teacher training are the areas that are essential in defining the future of education in NYC.
NYC School Holidays 2025-2026
| Date(s) | Holiday / Break |
|---|---|
| September 1, 2025 | Labor Day (Schools Closed) |
| September 29, 2025 | Rosh Hashanah |
| October 8, 2025 | Yom Kippur |
| November 27–28, 2025 | Thanksgiving Break |
| December 24, 2025 – January 1, 2026 | Winter Recess |
| January 19, 2026 | Martin Luther King Jr. Day |
| February 16–20, 2026 | Midwinter Recess |
| March 20, 2026 | Eid al-Fitr |
| April 2–10, 2026 | Spring Recess |
| May 25, 2026 | Memorial Day |
| May 27, 2026 | Eid al-Adha |
| June 19, 2026 | Juneteenth |
FAQs
Q: When does the NYC school year start and end?
A: The NYC school year normally begins in the first week of September and ends in the middle of June. All the dates are slightly different on a year-to-year basis, and the number can be found on the official NYC DOE academic calendar.
Q: How can I enroll my child in a NYC public school?
A: To enroll your child, you may visit your local Family Welcome Center, or registration can be done through the NYC MySchools portal. The enrollment prerequisites are your residency proof, birth certificate of your child, immunization, and past (no school records) school records.
Q: Are NYC public schools free?
A: Indeed, all of the residents of NYC can attend its free schools, pre-K to grade 12. This involves teaching and most of the textbooks and access to school practices, but not all optional activities are free.
Q: What specialized high schools are available in NYC?
A: There are selective high schools in NYC, such as Stuyvesant, Bronx Science, and Brooklyn Tech, with several others. The procedure is usually admission to an exam city called Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT), except LaGuardia High School, which requires an audition.
Q: How do school closures or weather delays get announced?
A: Information about weather or emergency school closures is reported on the NYC DOE, the local news stations, and on the Notify NYC system, as well as school-based communication methods.
