North Carolina Winter Break 2026
Last school day before the break and first day back for the 9 North Carolina 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cabarrus County Schools | Fri, Dec 18, 2026 | Tue, Jan 5, 2027 | 17 |
| Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | Fri, Dec 18, 2026 | Mon, Jan 4, 2027 | 16 |
| Cumberland County Schools | Fri, Dec 18, 2026 | Mon, Jan 4, 2027 | 16 |
| Gaston County Schools | Fri, Dec 18, 2026 | Wed, Jan 6, 2027 | 18 |
| Guilford County Schools | Fri, Dec 18, 2026 | Tue, Jan 5, 2027 | 17 |
| Johnston County Public Schools | Fri, Dec 18, 2026 | Tue, Jan 5, 2027 | 17 |
| Union County Public Schools | Fri, Dec 18, 2026 | Mon, Jan 4, 2027 | 16 |
| Wake County Public School System | Fri, Dec 18, 2026 | Mon, Jan 4, 2027 | 16 |
| Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools | Fri, Dec 18, 2026 | Tue, Jan 5, 2027 | 17 |
Frequently asked questions
When does winter break 2026 start in North Carolina?
For most of the 9 North Carolina districts we track, the last day of school before the break is December 18, 2026 (9 of 9). The earliest is December 18, 2026 and the latest December 18, 2026.
When do North Carolina students go back to school in January 2027?
Most return January 4, 2027 (4 of 9 districts). The first districts are back January 4, 2027 and the last January 6, 2027.
Which North Carolina district has the longest winter break?
Gaston County Schools: 18 days in a row without school (December 19, 2026 to January 5, 2027), weekends and adjacent days off included. The shortest is Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools with 16 days.
Every date comes from the district’s own calendar and links to it on the district page. How we check the dates →