Iowa Winter Break 2026
Last school day before the break and first day back for the 5 Iowa districts we track, earliest break first. Days off in a row count weekends and any teacher workday or holiday next to the break.
| District | Last day before break | Back to school | Days off in a row |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ankeny Schools | Fri, Dec 18, 2026 | Mon, Jan 4, 2027 | 16 |
| Des Moines Public Schools | Fri, Dec 18, 2026 | Mon, Jan 4, 2027 | 16 |
| Iowa City Community School District | Fri, Dec 18, 2026 | Mon, Jan 4, 2027 | 16 |
| Waterloo Community Schools | Fri, Dec 18, 2026 | Mon, Jan 4, 2027 | 16 |
| Davenport Community Schools | Tue, Dec 22, 2026 | Tue, Jan 5, 2027 | 13 |
Frequently asked questions
When does winter break 2026 start in Iowa?
For most of the 5 Iowa districts we track, the last day of school before the break is December 18, 2026 (4 of 5). The earliest is December 18, 2026 and the latest December 22, 2026.
When do Iowa students go back to school in January 2027?
Most return January 4, 2027 (4 of 5 districts). The first districts are back January 4, 2027 and the last January 5, 2027.
Which Iowa district has the longest winter break?
Ankeny Schools: 16 days in a row without school (December 19, 2026 to January 3, 2027), weekends and adjacent days off included. The shortest is Davenport Community Schools with 13 days.
Every date comes from the district’s own calendar and links to it on the district page. How we check the dates →