Are you looking for the 2023-2024 Ann Arbor Public Schools calendar? The full calendar was finally added to the district website on July 14 and updated on August 18.
If you’re looking for next year we have the details here:
Are you looking for the 2024-2025 Ann Arbor School calendar? It was finally released on July 30th! Ann Arbor Public Schools Calendar 2024-2025 Monday, August 26 - First Day of...
I have been predicting the A2 Schools school calendar for several years. This has been the most surprising calendar release in many years – at least if you don’t count the COVID changes
We have a fall break!
Mid-winter break returns (in a new format)
School ends on a Thursday
First Day of School for 2023-2024 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.
The first day of school for Ann Arbor Public Schools is Monday, August 28, 2024. There will be a 4 day weekend for Labor Day (September 1-4)
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.
Some elementary schools hold welcome back events either for the whole school or incoming students, typically the week before school starts. We have also asked our readers for any Y5/K playdates from their schools.
Last Day of School for 2023-2024 in AAPS
With the addition of a fall break and the return of mid-winter break, is later than originally predicted. The last day of school for Ann Arbor Public Schools is Thursday, June 13, 2024. This is a change from the traditional last day being on a Friday!
In May 2021, Washtenaw Intermediate School District (WISD) approved the dates for Winter and Spring Break through 2026 including the 2023-2024 school year.
The 2023-2024 break schedule is:
Winter Break – Saturday, December 23-Sunday, January 7
(Note: when AAPS releases their calendar, they typically only list the school days off for example – March 25-29 – while we have included the weekends)
Minor Breaks in the Ann Arbor Public Schools Academic Calendar
For 2023-2024 the Ann Arbor Public Schools have four minor breaks that are longer than a 3 day weekend – Labor Day, Fall Break, Thanksgiving, and Mid-Winter Break.
Labor Day
The first week of school starts with a mini-break for Labor Day. School runs Monday-Thursday, August 28-31. Students are off Friday, September 1 through Monday, September 4. The school year resumes on Tuesday, September 5.
It is nice to ease into the school year with two 4 day weeks separated by a 4 day weekend.
Fall Break
AAPS adds a fall break for the first time in my memory. It is a 4 day weekend in mid-October. (Friday-Monday, October 13-16, 2023). It partially coincides with UM spring break which is Saturday-Tuesday, October 14-17. As a UM family, I wish they matched more closely.
Thanksgiving
As usual, Ann Arbor Public Schools is off Wednesday-Friday for Thanksgiving. For 2023-2024 that would be Wednesday, November 22-Sunday, November 26.
Students at Skyline and Pathways have a true break over Thanksgiving with Trimester finals the Friday-Tuesday before Thanksgiving.
Mid-Winter Break
They also return a mid-winter break although in a different form than in the past. 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 7-10 years ago, it started shrinking to just a 3 day weekend as the state added days to the school calendar.
Individual Days Off
In addition to the short breaks listed above, the AAPS academic calendar has 5 days off – two 3 day weekends and two Tuesdays off.
Election Day – Tuesday, November 7
Martin Luther King Jr Day – Monday, January 15
Presidential Primary – Tuesday, February 27
May Election Day – Tuesday, May 7
Memorial Day – Monday, May 27
New Day Off!! Presidential Primary
On August 18, AAPS announced an update to the calendar to include Tuesday, February 27 as a day off due to the presidential primary. (I did warn parents to expect this day off when the calendar was first announced. I am glad it was resolved early and not a last minute day off.
AAPS typically has off for Good Friday (the Friday before Easter). In the 2023-2024 school year, this falls during Spring Break so it is not an extra day off.
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 2023-2024 school year in late summer 2024. 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.
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. Last year, they were used for several widespread power outages. In the 2021-2022 school year, they were used due to staffing shortages on November 1 and the week of Thanksgiving. They were also used after social media threats in the wake of the Oxford School Shooting.
Hopefully for 2023-2024 these will only be needed for snow days
Early Release Days
The last day of school has always been an early release day in my daughter’s 11 years at AAPS. Her first few years, that was the only early release day. The district has been adding days in recent years.
For the last couple of years, there were both half-days and early release days with different release times. This year there are only early release days. I am glad there is only one schedule this year (except the last day of school).
2023-2024 Early Release Days:
Wednesday, September 27 – All Students
Tuesday, October 31 – All Students
Wednesday, December 6 – All Students
Wednesday, January 31 – All Students
Wednesday, March 6 – All Students
Thursday, April 10 – All Students
Thursday, April 30 – Early release for HS, Transition day for 8th grade
Thursday, May 2 – Early release for MS, Transition day for 5th grade.
Wednesday, May 15 – Early Release for All Students
Thursday, June 13 – Last Day of School 1/2 Day
Standard Early Release Schedule
Elementary (K-5) – 1:00p
K-8 Schools – 12:30p
Middle Schools – 12:15p
High School – 12:00p
Last Day of School Release Schedule
Elementary (K-5) – 11:30a
K-8 Schools – 10:50a
Middle Schools – 10:45a
High School – 9:40a (make-up exams held after)
High School Exams
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 ends before Thanksgiving as it has in the past. It is nice for the kids to have Thanksgiving break knowing exams are over. Trimester 3 exams now have class on Monday with exams on Tuesday-Thursday
Trimester 1 – Friday, November 17, Monday-Tuesday November 20-21
Trimester 2- Wednesday-Friday, March 6-8
Trimester 3- Tuesday-Thursday, June 11-13
Semester Exams (Huron, Pioneer & Community)
Semester 1 exams to stay the Tuesday-Friday of MLK day. Semester 2 final exams now start on Monday with school finishing on Thursday.
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. Note: April 10 lists. the11th grade testing as PSAT, but from experience last year it was the SAT.
2023-2024 dates
Wednesday, October 11
High School – 11th grade PSAT/NMSQT, late start for those not testing (9th, 10th, & 12th plus 11th not taking the exam)
Thursday, April 11
Middle School – 8th grade PSAT, late start for 6th & 7th
High School – 11th grade WorkKeys, 9th or 10th PSAT, late start for 12th & 9th/10th graders not testing
April 17
High School – 11th grade SAT, 9th or 10th PSAT, late start for 12th & 9th/10th graders not testing
The 11th grade SAT, and WorkKeys are graduation requirements. Other testing can be opted out.
Friday, Monday-Tuesday, February 16, 19-20 – No School Mid-Winter Break
Tuesday, February 27 – No School – Presidential Primary
March
Wednesday, March 6 – Early Release Day
Monday-Friday, March 25-29 – No School, Spring Break
April
Thursday, April 11 – 11th grade WorkKeys, 8th, 9th or 10th PSAT (late start for non-testing middle & high schoolers)
Wednesday, April 17 – Early Release Day & 11th grade SAT, 9th or 10th PSAT (late start for non-testing high schoolers)
Tuesday, April 30 – Early Release for high school students only, 8th grade transition day
May
Thursday, May 2 – Early Release for middle school students only, 5th grade transition day
Monday, May 6-Friday, May 17 – High School AP Exams (typically taken at EMU – can be on a day off or early release day)
Thursday, May 7 – No School Election Day
Wednesday, May 15 – Early Release Day
Monday, May 27 – No School, Memorial Day
June
Monday, June 3- Skyline Graduation
Wednesday, June 5 – Huron Graduation
Thursday, June 6 – Pioneer Graduation
Monday, June 10 – Community, Huron, Pioneer Semester 2 Exams
Tuesday-Thursday, June 11-13 – High School Final Exams (Semester 2, Trimester 3)
Ann Arbor Public Schools Bell Schedule
AAPS Bell times were the same for 2023-2024 as they were in 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 – a rarity in my daughter’s years in AAPS. Bell times changed significantly for 2021-2022 compared to both the virtual year and pre-pandemic schedules. In most years.
Elementary – 8:45a-3:48p
K-8 – 8:15a-3:18p
Middle – 8:15a-3:03p
High School
Huron, Pioneer & Skyline – 8a-2:51p
Community – 8a-2:57/3:50p based on student schedule
Pathways – 8a-2:56p
Early Release Times:
Elementary – 8:45a-1p
K-8 – 8:15a-12:30p
Middle – 8:15a-12:15p
High School
8a-12p
Last Day of School Times
Elementary – 8:45a-11:30a
K-8 – 8:15a-10:45a
Middle – 8:15a-10:50a
High School
8a-9:40a (unless taking a makeup exam, buses run at 9:40)
The full calendar was added to the district website on July 14. The 2022-2023 full calendar was released on July 8. However, in mid-March they announced the start date for school. Winter and Spring break schedules are released in 5 year blocks through the 2025-2026 school year.
