Somerset County Approves 2026–2027 Academic School Year Calendar

Westover, MD - The academic calendar for the 2026-2027 school year was recently approved by the Somerset County Board of Education. Key dates have been established to allow students, staff, and families to plan ahead.

A staggered start is scheduled to begin on Monday, August 31, 2026, for select groups of students. The official start of the school year for the full student body will occur on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, when all students are required to report.

The approved calendar is aligned with the 180-day instructional requirement mandated by the state of Maryland. Designated make-up days are included to address potential school closures caused by inclement weather or other unforeseen circumstances.

Three make-up days are built into the middle of the academic year. These dates include November 23, 2026, November 24, 2026, and January 4, 2027. Additionally, three make-up days are scheduled at the conclusion of the school year on June 21, 2027, June 22, 2027, and June 23, 2027. These specific dates will be converted to instructional days only if required to meet the state mandate.

In the event of extended school closures where all built-in make-up days are utilized, additional instructional days may be implemented. This process will be coordinated by Somerset County Public Schools with employee associations and requires approval from the Board of Education.

Input from school leadership, teachers, staff, and families was utilized to develop the calendar. Instructional priorities and state requirements were balanced with the needs of the broader school community. The full 2026-2027 academic calendar can be accessed on the Somerset County Public Schools website at www.somerset.k12.md.us.