Stay organized with the Rochester City School District (RCSD) calendar. View the official Board-approved dates for the first day of school, Thanksgiving break, winter and spring recesses, parent-teacher conferences, and the last day of classes for Rochester, NY students. Includes all holidays, breaks, half days, and important dates from September 2026 through June 2027.
| Event | Date(s) | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Supt. Conference Days (Staff Only) | September 1–2, 2026 (Tue–Wed) | No Students |
| First Day of School | September 8, 2026 (Tue) | School Opens |
| Indigenous Peoples' Day | October 12, 2026 (Mon) | No School |
| Parent-Teacher Conferences (Elem.) | October 13, 2026 (Tue) | In Session |
| Parent-Teacher Conferences (Sec.) | October 15, 2026 (Thu) | In Session |
| Election Day / Supt. Conf. Day | November 3, 2026 (Tue) | No Students |
| Veterans Day | November 11, 2026 (Wed) | No School |
| Thanksgiving Break | November 25–27, 2026 (Wed–Fri) | No School |
| Winter Recess | Dec 23, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027 | No School |
| Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day | January 18, 2027 (Mon) | No School |
| Mid-Winter Recess | February 15–19, 2027 (Mon–Fri) | No School |
| Eid al-Fitr / Supt. Conf. Day | March 10, 2027 (Wed) | No Students |
| Parent-Teacher Conferences (Elem.) | March 16, 2027 (Tue) | In Session |
| Parent-Teacher Conferences (Sec.) | March 18, 2027 (Thu) | In Session |
| Spring Recess | Mar 22–26, 2027 (Mon–Fri) | No School |
| Good Friday | March 26, 2027 (Fri) | No School |
| Memorial Day | May 31, 2027 (Mon) | No School |
| Juneteenth (observed) | June 18, 2027 (Fri) | No School |
| Last Day of School | June 24, 2027 (Thu) | School Closes |
| Regents Rating Day (Staff Only) | June 25, 2027 (Fri) | No Students |
Complete month-by-month calendar from September 2026 to June 2027. Every day is color-coded so you can see school days, holidays, and breaks at a glance.
The Rochester City School District (RCSD) is a prominent public school system in upstate New York, serving approximately 21,000 students across Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade. The district manages about 39 schools, including numerous elementary, secondary, and specialized programs. The official RCSD school calendar is the vital planning tool that keeps this extensive educational community synchronized throughout the academic year. Also see the Buffalo and Syracuse calendars for nearby districts.
The Rochester calendar is characterized by several localized scheduling patterns that differ from other major New York districts. For example, RCSD frequently schedules a longer, three-day Thanksgiving break and often observes its Mid-Winter Recess during the last week of February, distinct from the Presidents' Day week observed by New York City. The district's holiday observances and lake-effect weather-related closure policies are established annually by the Board of Education in coordination with local labor units.
For easy reference, use the button at the top of this page to download a free, color-coded printable Rochester school calendar for your fridge or classroom.
The 2026-2027 school year for RCSD begins on Tuesday, September 8, 2026. This date was approved by the Board of Education on March 26, 2026.
Rochester's Mid-Winter Recess runs from Monday, February 15 through Friday, February 19, 2027. This is Presidents' Day week, which aligns with many other NY districts.
Yes. Rochester's Thanksgiving Break typically includes Wednesday through Friday (3 days off), while NYC and most other districts only close Thursday-Friday. In 2026, this means November 25-27 are all non-school days.
Yes. Rochester City School District observes Good Friday as a school holiday. In 2027, Good Friday falls on Friday, March 26. NYC DOE does not observe Good Friday.
The last day of the 2026-2027 school year is Thursday, June 24, 2027, as approved by the Board of Education.
Rochester schedules parent-teacher conferences separately for elementary and secondary schools. Elementary conferences are on October 13, 2026 and March 16, 2027. Secondary conferences are on October 15, 2026 and March 18, 2027. School remains in session on all conference days.
The Rochester City School District monitors lake-effect winter weather closely. Depending on the severity of the storm, the Superintendent may delay the start of school, dismiss students early, or close schools entirely. On days when schools are closed due to weather emergencies, the district typically utilizes built-in snow days. If these are depleted, scheduled recess days may be reclaimed as instructional days.
Yes. Following its recognition as a state and federal holiday, Juneteenth (June 19) is officially observed by the Rochester City School District. Schools are closed on this day. If June 19 falls on a weekend, the preceding Friday or following Monday may be observed.
Rochester follows the statewide NYS testing schedule. Regents Exams are held January 26–29, 2027 (winter session) and June 15–24, 2027 (spring session). In addition, NYS Grades 3-8 ELA testing runs April 5–16, Grades 3-8 Mathematics runs April 26 – May 7, and Grades 5 & 8 Science runs May 10–14, 2027. Individual school testing schedules within these windows may vary — contact your child's school for exact dates.
Rochester is located in the Finger Lakes region. Nearby school districts include Pittsford, Buffalo and Canandaigua. Each district sets its own academic calendar, though break schedules in the same region often align.
Data Source: This calendar is based on the official 2026-2027 calendar approved by the Rochester City School District Board of Education on March 26, 2026.
Disclaimer: This website is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to Rochester City School District or the New York State Education Department (NYSED). For the most current and official calendar, please visit www.rcsdk12.org.
Dates are subject to change. Religious holiday dates are approximate and based on projected lunar calendar calculations.
Last updated: March 31, 2026