Are you looking for the 2025-2026 Ann Arbor School calendar? Next year’s AAPS calendar has not been released yet. Calendars are typically released over the summer. But, that doesn’t mean we know nothing about the calendar! Winter and spring break schedules are available. And I’ve been predicting the Ann Arbor Public Schools calendar for several years and am usually pretty close.
Are you looking for the 2026-2027 Ann Arbor School calendar? In an unprecedented move, AAPS released the 2026-2027 calendar with the 2025-2026 calendar. This is the first time I recall a calendar being released so far in advance and I became an AAPS parent in 2011. 2026-2027 AAPS Calendar This is the calendar that was […]
First Day of School for 2025-2026 in AAPS
When do Michigan schools start? Traditionally, school started the Tuesday after Labor Day and that is still the standard. However, districts can apply for a waiver to start in August. Ann Arbor Schools has had a waiver to start early since 2020-2021.
AAPS will start on Monday, August 25. This year the first day of school is a half-day. It also starts a four day week before taking off Friday-Monday (August 29-September 1) for Labor Day. School will resume on Tuesday, September 2.
While starting after Labor Day is nice, this schedule lets school start with a 4 day week, a 4 day weekend, and another 4 day week. For parents of high school athletes and band members, it also decreases they days they need to be available before school starts.
August 12-19 – Skyline Band (& Orchestra & Choir) Camp & Huron Band Camp
High School orientations typically take place about a week and a half before school starts. At Orientation students get their student IDs, class schedule, books (if any), and can get a parking pass. If a student misses orientation, there will be another opportunity to complete orientation. I would definitely try to make these especially if your child is new to the school or they have a complicated schedule.
Some elementary schools hold welcome back events the week before school starts. Some host the whole school, while others host just new students.
Last Day of School for 2025-2026 in AAPS
Traditionally school has ended on a Friday, but in 2023-2024 it moved to Thursday and in 2024-2025 it moved to Wednesday. 2025=2026 continues this trend by moving the last day up to Tuesday, June 9th.
In May 2021, Washtenaw Intermediate School District (WISD) approved the dates for Winter and Spring Break through 2026 including the 2025-2026 school year.
The 2025-2026 break schedule is:
Winter Break – Saturday, December 20-Sunday, January 4
(Note: when AAPS releases their calendar, they typically only list the school days off for example – March 30-April 3 – while we have included the weekends)
Minor Breaks on the Ann Arbor School Calendar Next Year
For 2025-2026, AAPS typically has several minor breaks of less than a week, but more than a 3 day weekend. Our initial predictions include 4 minor breaks – Labor Day, Fall Break, Thanksgiving, and Mid-Winter Break.
Labor Day – August 29-September 1
Every year that AAPS has started before Labor Day, they have had a 4 day weekend for Labor Day. AAPS will be closed on Friday, August 29 and Monday, September 1 with school resuming on Tuesday, September 2.
It is nice to ease into the school year with two 4 day weeks separated by a 4 day weekend.
Fall Break – October 10-13
AAPS added a fall break for the first time in my memory in 2023-2024. It was the week after Indigenous Peoples Day (October 14-17) and partially coincided with UMs fall break (Friday-Monday vs UM’s Saturday-Tuesday).
Fall Break 2025 will remain the same weekend as Friday, October 10-Monday, October 13. It provides at least partial overlap with UM’s Fall Break (10/13-14), Indigenous Peoples Day (Columbus Day), and Canadian Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving – November 26-30
Ann Arbor Public Schools is typically closed Wednesday-Friday for Thanksgiving. They have had this same break the entire 13 years my daughter attended – and in 2024-25 after she graduated. (except for the 2021-2022 year when they extended Thanksgiving break due to COVID cases).
The 2025 AAPS Thanksgiving Break will be Wednesday November 26 through Sunday, November 30 with school resuming on Monday, December 1.
Students at Skyline and Pathways typically have a true break over Thanksgiving! Trimester 1 finals are the Friday-Tuesday before Thanksgiving with Trimester 2 starting when they return.
Mid-Winter Break – February 13-17
Mid-winter break has been back the last few years. It is a 5 day weekend (Friday-Tuesday around Presidents Day). This mid-winter break matches what other districts in the county offer (Saline and Dexter)
Mid-Winter break was originally the week of UM’s spring break (prior to 2009 or so). Then it was the whole week of President’s Day. About 10 years ago, it started shrinking to just a 3 day weekend as the state added days to the school calendar. I am glad to see it back.
Individual Days Off
All of the individual days off that I predicted for 2025-2026 school year are on the calendar. There is also an additional day off in September that I had not predicted. This additional day off is likely due to a decrease in early release days.
AAPS typically has off for Good Friday (the Friday before Easter) on years when it does not fall during spring break. This year, Easter is the last day of spring break, so there won’t be an individual day off for Good Friday. However, we assume this trend will continue in the future..
September Day Off – Monday, September 29
Election Day – Tuesday, November 4
Martin Luther King Jr Day – Monday, January 19
May Election Day – Tuesday, May 5
Memorial Day – Monday, May 25
Make sure to check out our full list of school break camps if you need child care on days off from school. This list will be updated for the 2025-2026 school year in fall 2025 as camps are announced. Historically most camps were not announced until after summer camps end. In a post-pandemic world, we have noticed that most camps are announced gradually through the school year – one break at a time.
Trying to remember which days the kids are off? Check out the 2025-2026 Ann Arbor Public Schools Calendar. Thanks to the Future Innovators Academy for sponsoring our Break Camp Guides. Ann Arbor School Break Camp Guide This is a comprehensive guide of everyone who has announced camps for the 2025-2026 school year. Traditionally, some camps […]
The AAPS schedule typically has 6 built in “snow” days on the calendar. If the district goes over the 6 days, they either need to add days at the end of the year or ask the state for forgiveness.
While snow days is their typical use, they have been used for various purposes throughout the years. In recent years “snow” days have been used for widespread power outages, staffing shortages across the district due to illness, and in the wake of the Oxford School Shooting.
Hopefully for 2025-2026 these will only be needed for snow days.
Early Release Days
This year there has been a big reduction in the number of Early Release Days. The last day of school remains a half day. There is also one early release day near the end of each trimester for the elementary, K-8, and middle schools.
2025-2026 Early Release Days
Friday, October 31 – Elementary, K-8s, and Middle School only
Tuesday, March 10 – Elementary, K-8s, and Middle School only
Tuesday, April 27 – Early release for HS, Transition day for 8th grade
Thursday, April 30 – Early release for MS, Transition day for 5th grade.
Thursday, May 14 – Elementary, K-8s, and Middle School only
Tuesday, June 9 – Last Day of School 1/2 Day
High School Exams
Typically, Skyline and Pathways are on a trimester schedule with Huron, Pioneer, and Community on a semester schedule. This leads to different exam days.
High school exams are scheduled in the morning with 2 exams a day. Students are dismissed after their last exam.
Trimester Exams (Skyline & Pathways)
Trimester 1 typically ends before Thanksgiving. It is nice for the kids to have Thanksgiving break knowing exams are over.
2025-2026 exam predictions
Trimester 1 – Friday, November 21 & Monday-Tuesday, November 24-25 (Friday, November 22, Monday-Tuesday November 25-26)
Trimester 2- Wednesday-Friday, March 4-6
Trimester 3- Friday, Monday-Tuesday, June 5 & 8-9
Semester Exams (Huron, Pioneer & Community)
Typically Semester 1 exams are the Tuesday-Friday of MLK day. Semester 2 exams are the last 4 days of school.
2025-2026 exam predictions
Semester 1 – Tuesday-Friday, January 20-23
Semester 2 – Thursday-Friday, Monday-Tuesday, June 4-5 & 8-9
There are several days that standardized testing is offered for high school students. The high school students who are not testing on those days have a late start.
These are not as easy to predict. But, expect them to be similar to the 2024-2025 dates:
Wednesday, October 8, 2025
High School – 11th grade PSAT/NMSQT, late start for those not testing (9th, 10th, & 12th plus 11th not taking the exam)
Thursday, April 9, 2026
Middle School – 8th grade PSAT, late start for 6th, 7th,
High School – 9th grade PSAT, 11th grade WorkKeys, late start for 10th & 12th graders not testing
April 15, 2026
High School – 10th grade PSAT, 11th grade SAT, late start for 12th & 9th graders
The 11th grade SAT and WorkKeys are graduation requirements. Other testing can be opted out.
The Ann Arbor Public Schools Bell Schedule for 2025-2026 has had a few minor changes from last year. 2025-2026 AAPS Start & End Times For many years, there were efforts...
