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California school calendar

Palo Alto Unified School District Calendar 2027-28

Every holiday, break and early release on the Palo Alto Unified School District 2027-28 calendar, from the district's own calendar. Add the dates to your phone with one file.

Also here: the PAUSD 2026-27 calendar.

Key dates
  • School starts Thursday, Aug. 12, 2027 and ends Thursday, June 1, 2028, an early release day.
  • Thanksgiving break: Nov. 22 to 26. Students are out Saturday, Nov. 20 to Sunday, Nov. 28, back Monday, Nov. 29.
  • Winter break: Dec. 20 to Jan. 3. Students are out Saturday, Dec. 18 to Monday, Jan. 3, back Tuesday, Jan. 4.
  • Spring break: April 3 to 7. Students are out Saturday, April 1 to Sunday, April 9, back Monday, April 10.
  • Nine early release days for every school. Details below.

The PAUSD 2027-28 calendar

This is the district's own calendar, as PAUSD publishes it. Tap it to open the full-size image.

The Palo Alto Unified School District School Year Calendar for 2027-2028: month grids from July 2027 to June 2028 with school day counts, holidays in yellow, staff days in red and blue, early release days in purple and the first day of full-day kindergarten in orange, beside lists of important dates, no school days, early release days, quarters, semesters and trimesters, and a legend.
Calendar by Palo Alto Unified School District. Get the original from the district: the calendar PDF or its calendar page.

Add the PAUSD calendar to your phone

Pick a file. Each one is an all-day event per day off or half day, and a break is one event across all its days.

Every date First and last day, every day off, every early release and grading period dates. 26 events.
Download .ics
Holidays and breaks Only the days with no school. 13 events.
Download .ics
Early release days Only the half days. 9 events.
Download .ics

On an iPhone

Tap a file above, then tap Add All. The dates go into the calendar you choose.

In Google Calendar

On a computer, open Google Calendar, then Settings, then Import & export. Choose the file and the calendar to add it to. The dates show up on your Android phone too.

In Outlook

Open the downloaded file, or in Outlook on the web go to Add calendar, then Upload from file.

These files are a copy of the calendar today. If the district changes a date, download the file again.

PAUSD vacations and holidays, 2027-28

Every day with no school for students, from the first day to the last: 13 entries and 31 weekdays in all.

Day offDatesDays of the weekSchool days off
Labor Day HolidaySept. 6Mon1
Staff development day, no school Staff dayOct. 1Fri1
Veterans Day HolidayNov. 11Thu1
Thanksgiving break BreakNov. 22 to 26Mon to Fri5
Winter break BreakDec. 20 to Jan. 3Mon to Mon11
Martin Luther King Jr. Day HolidayJan. 17Mon1
Local holiday HolidayFeb. 18Fri1
Presidents Day HolidayFeb. 21Mon1
Local holiday HolidayMarch 13Mon1
Staff development day, no school Staff dayMarch 14Tue1
Spring break BreakApril 3 to 7Mon to Fri5
Local holiday HolidayApril 28Fri1
Memorial Day HolidayMay 29Mon1

PAUSD early release days

Nine early release days in all.

DateDayWhatDismissalWho
Sept. 3FriEarly release dayEarly, time not printedAll schools
Oct. 29FriEarly release dayEarly, time not printedAll schools
Nov. 19FriEarly release dayEarly, time not printedAll schools
Dec. 17FriEarly release day, end of 1st semesterEarly, time not printedAll schools
March 10FriEarly release day, end of 3rd quarterEarly, time not printedAll schools
March 31FriEarly release dayEarly, time not printedAll schools
May 30TueEarly release dayEarly, time not printedAll schools
May 31WedEarly release dayEarly, time not printedAll schools
June 1ThuLast day of schoolEarly, time not printedAll schools

Calendar notes: what to plan around

Long weekends and breaks

Every stretch of three or more days with no school, counting weekends. A half day next to a weekend adds half a day.

  • 3.5-day weekend: Friday, Sept. 3 at early dismissal to Monday, Sept. 6. Early release day and Labor Day. Back Tuesday, Sept. 7.
  • 3-day weekend: Friday, Oct. 1 to Sunday, Oct. 3. Staff development day, no school. Back Monday, Oct. 4.
  • 2.5-day weekend: Friday, Oct. 29 at early dismissal to Sunday, Oct. 31. Early release day. Back Monday, Nov. 1.
  • 9.5 days off in a row: Friday, Nov. 19 at early dismissal to Sunday, Nov. 28. Early release day and Thanksgiving break. Back Monday, Nov. 29.
  • 17.5 days off in a row: Friday, Dec. 17 at early dismissal to Monday, Jan. 3. Early release day, end of 1st semester and winter break. Back Tuesday, Jan. 4.
  • 3-day weekend: Saturday, Jan. 15 to Monday, Jan. 17. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Back Tuesday, Jan. 18.
  • 4-day weekend: Friday, Feb. 18 to Monday, Feb. 21. Local holiday and Presidents Day. Back Tuesday, Feb. 22.
  • 4.5-day weekend: Friday, March 10 at early dismissal to Tuesday, March 14. Early release day, end of 3rd quarter, Local holiday and staff development day, no school. Back Wednesday, March 15.
  • 9.5 days off in a row: Friday, March 31 at early dismissal to Sunday, April 9. Early release day and spring break. Back Monday, April 10.
  • 3-day weekend: Friday, April 28 to Sunday, April 30. Local holiday. Back Monday, May 1.
  • 3.5-day weekend: Saturday, May 27 to Monday, May 29. Memorial Day. Tuesday, May 30, an early release day.

One early release on a Friday or Monday makes a 2.5-day weekend.

Weeks with fewer than five school days

Eleven weeks have fewer than five school days, and four weeks have none at all.

Week ofSchool daysWhy
Aug. 92Before the first day
Sept. 64Labor Day
Sept. 274Staff development day, no school
Nov. 84Veterans Day
Nov. 220Thanksgiving break
Dec. 200Winter break
Dec. 270Winter break
Jan. 34Winter break
Jan. 174Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Feb. 144Local holiday
Feb. 214Presidents Day
March 133Local holiday and staff development day, no school
April 30Spring break
April 244Local holiday
May 293Memorial Day and after the last day

Teacher workdays: no school for students

Two of the days off are staff days. Teachers work; students stay home. Plan child care as you would for a holiday.

  • Friday, Oct. 1: staff development day, no school
  • Tuesday, March 14: staff development day, no school

Makeup days

The district calendar names no makeup days. If school closes for weather, the district announces how the day is made up.

Also worth knowing

  • School is open on a federal holiday: Columbus Day (Monday, Oct. 11). Banks, post offices and many offices close; school does not.
  • The district calendar prints no parent-teacher conference dates.
  • The district calendar prints no testing dates.
  • After the last day, the calendar still shows teacher work day (June 2) and Juneteenth (June 19). Students are already out.

First and last day of school

Aug. 12First day, Thursday
June 1Last day, Thursday
180School days, by our count
31Weekdays off between them

The first day of school is Thursday, Aug. 12, 2027. The last day is Thursday, June 1, 2028, with early dismissal.

Teachers start sooner. Staff days before school run Aug. 9 to 11.

The district prints 180 instructional days across the semesters (secondary). Our count of the calendar matches.

Grading periods

Quarters

PeriodDatesSchool days
1st quarterAug. 12 to Oct. 1545
2nd quarterOct. 18 to Dec. 1739
3rd quarterJan. 4 to March 1046
4th quarterMarch 15 to June 150

Semesters (secondary)

PeriodDatesSchool days
1st semesterAug. 12 to Dec. 1784
2nd semesterJan. 4 to June 196

Trimesters

PeriodDatesSchool days
1st trimesterAug. 12 to Nov. 560
2nd trimesterNov. 8 to Feb. 2560
3rd trimesterFeb. 28 to June 160

What the district notes

  • Kindergarten moves to full days on Monday, Oct. 18, the calendar's "First Day of Full-Day Kindergarten".
  • Monday, Jan. 3, the last day of winter break, is a staff day: staff development for K-8 and a teacher work day for 9-12. Students return Tuesday, Jan. 4.
  • The calendar prints a school day count for each month, 180 days in all (84 in the first semester and 96 in the second).

Common questions

When does PAUSD start in 2027?

The first day of school for Palo Alto Unified School District is Thursday, Aug. 12, 2027.

When is the last day of school for PAUSD in 2028?

The last day for students is Thursday, June 1, 2028. It is an early release day.

When is winter break for PAUSD?

Winter break runs Monday, Dec. 20 to Monday, Jan. 3. Counting weekends, students are out Saturday, Dec. 18 to Monday, Jan. 3 and go back Tuesday, Jan. 4.

When is spring break for PAUSD?

Spring break runs Monday, April 3 to Friday, April 7. Counting weekends, students are out Saturday, April 1 to Sunday, April 9 and go back Monday, April 10.

When is Thanksgiving break for PAUSD?

Thanksgiving break runs Monday, Nov. 22 to Friday, Nov. 26. Counting weekends, students are out Saturday, Nov. 20 to Sunday, Nov. 28 and go back Monday, Nov. 29.

Does PAUSD have early release days in 2027-28?

Yes. Friday, Sept. 3 (early, time not printed), Friday, Oct. 29 (early, time not printed), Friday, Nov. 19 (early, time not printed), Friday, Dec. 17 (early, time not printed), Friday, March 10 (early, time not printed), Friday, March 31 (early, time not printed), Tuesday, May 30 (early, time not printed), Wednesday, May 31 (early, time not printed) and Thursday, June 1 (early, time not printed) are for every school.

How do I put the PAUSD calendar on my phone?

Download one of the .ics files on this page. On an iPhone, open it and tap Add All. On Android or a computer, import it into Google Calendar or Outlook.

How we checked these dates

We read every date off the district's own calendar twice: once from the PDF's text and once from the image, cell by cell against its legend. Then we checked the first and last day, every day off except the March 14 staff day and the April 28 local holiday, four of the nine early release days and most grading period ends against the district's web calendar. The other dates rest on the district's calendar alone.

Every weekday on this page matches its date. The district's printed day counts match our own count of its calendar. If the district changes its calendar, its page is the final word.

Where each date is on the district's calendar
  • First day, Aug. 12: Palo Alto Unified School District School Year Calendar for 2027-2028 (PDF), page 1, August grid, 12 in green; Important Dates "Aug 12 First Day of School". Also: PAUSD Calendar page (district events calendar and printable PDFs), "First Day of School 2027-28 School Year" on Thursday, August 12.
  • Last day, June 1: Palo Alto Unified School District School Year Calendar for 2027-2028 (PDF), page 1, June grid, 1 in purple with dotted border (legend "Last day of School & Early Release Day"); Important Dates "June 1 Early Release/Last Day of School". Also: PAUSD Calendar page (district events calendar and printable PDFs), "Early Release Day - Last Day of School" on Thursday, June 1.
  • Independence Day (observed), July 5: Palo Alto Unified School District School Year Calendar for 2027-2028 (PDF), page 1, July grid, 5 marked H (legend "Federal/State Holiday").
  • District day, no school for students, Aug. 9: Palo Alto Unified School District School Year Calendar for 2027-2028 (PDF), page 1, August grid, 9 marked DD (legend "District Day"), before the first day on Aug. 12.
  • Teacher work day (K-8) and staff development day (9-12), Aug. 10: Palo Alto Unified School District School Year Calendar for 2027-2028 (PDF), page 1, August grid, 10 split "SD 9-12" and "WD K-8"; Important Dates "Aug 10 K-8 Teacher Work Day / 9-12 Staff Development Day". Also: PAUSD Calendar page (district events calendar and printable PDFs), "Staff Development Day - Grades 9-12" and "Teacher Work Day - Grades TK-8" on Tuesday, August 10.
  • Teacher work day, Aug. 11: Palo Alto Unified School District School Year Calendar for 2027-2028 (PDF), page 1, August grid, 11 marked WD (legend "Teacher Work Day").
  • Labor Day, Sept. 6: Palo Alto Unified School District School Year Calendar for 2027-2028 (PDF), page 1, September grid, 6 marked H; No School Days "Sept 6 Labor Day". Also: PAUSD Calendar page (district events calendar and printable PDFs), "No School - Labor Day" on Monday, September 6.
  • Staff development day, no school, Oct. 1: Palo Alto Unified School District School Year Calendar for 2027-2028 (PDF), page 1, October grid, 1 marked SD (legend "Staff Professional Development Day"); No School Days "Oct 1 Staff Development Day". Also: PAUSD Calendar page (district events calendar and printable PDFs), "No School - Staff Development Day" on Friday, October 1.
  • Veterans Day, Nov. 11: Palo Alto Unified School District School Year Calendar for 2027-2028 (PDF), page 1, November grid, 11 marked H; No School Days "Nov 11 Veterans’ Day". Also: PAUSD Calendar page (district events calendar and printable PDFs), "No School - Veterans's Day" on Thursday, November 11.
  • Thanksgiving break, Nov. 22 to 26: Palo Alto Unified School District School Year Calendar for 2027-2028 (PDF), page 1, November grid, 22, 23, 24 and 26 marked LH, 25 marked H; No School Days "Nov 22-26 Thanksgiving Break". Also: PAUSD Calendar page (district events calendar and printable PDFs), "No School - Thanksgiving Break" on each day, Monday, November 22 to Friday, November 26.
  • Winter break, Dec. 20 to Jan. 3: Palo Alto Unified School District School Year Calendar for 2027-2028 (PDF), page 1, December grid, 20 to 23 and 27 to 30 marked LH, 24 and 31 marked H; January grid, 3 split "WD 9-12" and "SD K-8"; No School Days "Dec 20 - Jan 3 Winter Break"; Important Dates "Jan 4 Students Return to School". Also: PAUSD Calendar page (district events calendar and printable PDFs), "No School - Winter Break" on each weekday from Monday, December 20 to Monday, January 3.
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Jan. 17: Palo Alto Unified School District School Year Calendar for 2027-2028 (PDF), page 1, January grid, 17 marked H; No School Days "Jan 17 Martin Luther King Jr. Day". Also: PAUSD Calendar page (district events calendar and printable PDFs), "No School - Martin Luther King Jr. Day" on Monday, January 17.
  • Local holiday, Feb. 18: Palo Alto Unified School District School Year Calendar for 2027-2028 (PDF), page 1, February grid, 18 marked LH (legend "Local Holiday"); No School Days "Feb 18 Local Holiday". Also: PAUSD Calendar page (district events calendar and printable PDFs), "No School - Local Holiday" on Friday, February 18.
  • Presidents Day, Feb. 21: Palo Alto Unified School District School Year Calendar for 2027-2028 (PDF), page 1, February grid, 21 marked H; No School Days "Feb 21 Washington’s Birthday Observed". Also: PAUSD Calendar page (district events calendar and printable PDFs), "No School - Washington's Birthday Observed" on Monday, February 21.
  • Local holiday, March 13: Palo Alto Unified School District School Year Calendar for 2027-2028 (PDF), page 1, March grid, 13 marked LH; No School Days "Mar 13 Local Holiday". Also: PAUSD Calendar page (district events calendar and printable PDFs), "No School - Local Holiday" on Monday, March 13.
  • Staff development day, no school, March 14: Palo Alto Unified School District School Year Calendar for 2027-2028 (PDF), page 1, March grid, 14 marked SD; No School Days "Mar 14 Staff Development Day".
  • Spring break, April 3 to 7: Palo Alto Unified School District School Year Calendar for 2027-2028 (PDF), page 1, April grid, 3 to 7 marked LH; No School Days "Apr 3-7 Spring Break". Also: PAUSD Calendar page (district events calendar and printable PDFs), "No School - Spring Break" on each day, Monday, April 3 to Friday, April 7.
  • Local holiday, April 28: Palo Alto Unified School District School Year Calendar for 2027-2028 (PDF), page 1, April grid, 28 marked LH; No School Days "Apr 28 Local Holiday"; April prints 14 days, which holds only with April 28 off.
  • Memorial Day, May 29: Palo Alto Unified School District School Year Calendar for 2027-2028 (PDF), page 1, May grid, 29 marked H (the No School Days list prints "May 27", a Saturday). Also: PAUSD Calendar page (district events calendar and printable PDFs), "No School - Memorial Day" on Monday, May 29.
  • Teacher work day, June 2: Palo Alto Unified School District School Year Calendar for 2027-2028 (PDF), page 1, June grid, 2 marked WD (legend "Teacher Work Day"), after the last day on June 1.
  • Juneteenth, June 19: Palo Alto Unified School District School Year Calendar for 2027-2028 (PDF), page 1, June grid, 19 marked H (legend "Federal/State Holiday").
  • Early release day, Sept. 3: Palo Alto Unified School District School Year Calendar for 2027-2028 (PDF), page 1, September grid, 3 in purple (legend "All Schools Early Release Day"); Early Release Days "Sept 3, Oct 29, Nov 19, Dec 17, Mar 10 & 31, May 30 & 31, and Jun 1". Also: PAUSD Calendar page (district events calendar and printable PDFs), "Early Release Day" on Friday, September 3.
  • Early release day, Oct. 29: Palo Alto Unified School District School Year Calendar for 2027-2028 (PDF), page 1, October grid, 29 in purple; Early Release Days "Sept 3, Oct 29, Nov 19, Dec 17, Mar 10 & 31, May 30 & 31, and Jun 1".
  • Early release day, Nov. 19: Palo Alto Unified School District School Year Calendar for 2027-2028 (PDF), page 1, November grid, 19 in purple; Early Release Days "Sept 3, Oct 29, Nov 19, Dec 17, Mar 10 & 31, May 30 & 31, and Jun 1".
  • Early release day, end of 1st semester, Dec. 17: Palo Alto Unified School District School Year Calendar for 2027-2028 (PDF), page 1, December grid, 17 in purple; Early Release Days "Sept 3, Oct 29, Nov 19, Dec 17, Mar 10 & 31, May 30 & 31, and Jun 1". Also: PAUSD Calendar page (district events calendar and printable PDFs), "Early Release Day" on Friday, December 17.
  • Early release day, end of 3rd quarter, March 10: Palo Alto Unified School District School Year Calendar for 2027-2028 (PDF), page 1, March grid, 10 in purple; Early Release Days "Sept 3, Oct 29, Nov 19, Dec 17, Mar 10 & 31, May 30 & 31, and Jun 1"; Quarters/Semesters "Mar 10 End of 3rd Quarter".
  • Early release day, March 31: Palo Alto Unified School District School Year Calendar for 2027-2028 (PDF), page 1, March grid, 31 in purple; Early Release Days "Sept 3, Oct 29, Nov 19, Dec 17, Mar 10 & 31, May 30 & 31, and Jun 1". Also: PAUSD Calendar page (district events calendar and printable PDFs), "Early Release Day" on Friday, March 31.
  • Early release day, May 30: Palo Alto Unified School District School Year Calendar for 2027-2028 (PDF), page 1, May grid, 30 in purple; Early Release Days "Sept 3, Oct 29, Nov 19, Dec 17, Mar 10 & 31, May 30 & 31, and Jun 1".
  • Early release day, May 31: Palo Alto Unified School District School Year Calendar for 2027-2028 (PDF), page 1, May grid, 31 in purple; Early Release Days "Sept 3, Oct 29, Nov 19, Dec 17, Mar 10 & 31, May 30 & 31, and Jun 1".
  • Last day of school, June 1: Palo Alto Unified School District School Year Calendar for 2027-2028 (PDF), page 1, June grid, 1 in purple with dotted border (legend "Last day of School & Early Release Day"); Early Release Days "Sept 3, Oct 29, Nov 19, Dec 17, Mar 10 & 31, May 30 & 31, and Jun 1". Also: PAUSD Calendar page (district events calendar and printable PDFs), "Early Release Day - Last Day of School" on Thursday, June 1.
  • 1st quarter (quarters): Palo Alto Unified School District School Year Calendar for 2027-2028 (PDF), page 1, Quarters/Semesters "Oct 15 End of 1st Quarter".
  • 2nd quarter (quarters): Palo Alto Unified School District School Year Calendar for 2027-2028 (PDF), page 1, Quarters/Semesters "Dec 20 End of 2nd Quarter"; Dec. 20 is the first day of winter break, so the quarter's last school day is Friday, Dec. 17.
  • 3rd quarter (quarters): Palo Alto Unified School District School Year Calendar for 2027-2028 (PDF), page 1, Quarters/Semesters "Mar 10 End of 3rd Quarter".
  • 4th quarter (quarters): Palo Alto Unified School District School Year Calendar for 2027-2028 (PDF), page 1, Quarters/Semesters "Jun 1 End of 4th Quarter".
  • 1st semester (semesters (secondary)): Palo Alto Unified School District School Year Calendar for 2027-2028 (PDF), page 1, Quarters/Semesters "Dec 20 End of 1st Semester 84 days - secondary"; Dec. 20 is the first day of winter break, and the 84 days run through Friday, Dec. 17 (August 14 + September 21 + October 20 + November 16 + December 13 printed days).
  • 2nd semester (semesters (secondary)): Palo Alto Unified School District School Year Calendar for 2027-2028 (PDF), page 1, Quarters/Semesters "Jun 1 End of 2nd Semester 96 days - secondary".
  • 1st trimester (trimesters): Palo Alto Unified School District School Year Calendar for 2027-2028 (PDF), page 1, Quarters/Semesters "Nov 5 End of 1st Trimester".
  • 2nd trimester (trimesters): Palo Alto Unified School District School Year Calendar for 2027-2028 (PDF), page 1, Quarters/Semesters "Feb 25 End of 2nd Trimester".
  • 3rd trimester (trimesters): Palo Alto Unified School District School Year Calendar for 2027-2028 (PDF), page 1, Quarters/Semesters "Jun 1 End of 3rd Trimester".