The Wicomico County Board of Education at its March meeting approved the school calendar for 2026-2027.
Board members approved a calendar that begins the school year on Tuesday, Sept. 1. Students in grades 1-6 and 9 (Grade 6 only at Mardela, all grades attend at Pittsville) will attend on Sept. 1. That first day is an important transition day for students new to middle school and high school. On Wednesday, Sept. 2, all students in grades 1-12 will be in classes.
Approved 2026-2027 School Year Calendar: https://aptg.co/P7vv5c
Approved 2026-2027 School Year Calendar in Spanish: https://aptg.co/yztVRx
Approved 2026-2027 School Year Calendar in Haitian Creole: https://aptg.co/vMx_dd
During the first week of the school year, Prekindergarten and Kindergarten students will attend as assigned by the school. There will be a parent/guardian conference for each student on Sept. 1 or 2. On Sept. 3 and 4, half of each Prekindergarten and Kindergarten class will attend each day to help these early learners get familiar with school rules and routines.
Students will be off school on these dates during the 2026-2027 school year:
Sept. 7: Labor Day
Oct. 16: MSEA Convention
Nov. 2: Staff Professional Development Day
Nov. 3: Election Day
Nov. 25-27: Thanksgiving Break
Dec. 21-Jan. 1: Winter Break
Jan. 18: Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Jan. 29: Staff Professional Development Day
Feb. 15: Presidents’ Day
March 25-29: Spring Break (March 24 is a 3-hour early dismissal day)
May 31: Memorial Day
High school commencement ceremonies for the Class of 2027 are scheduled as follows:
Evening High Winter Commencement, 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 4, 2027
Evening High Spring Commencement, 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 1, 2027
Wicomico High Commencement, 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 2, 2027
James M. Bennett High Commencement, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 2, 2027
Mardela High Commencement, 3:30 p.m. Thursday, June 3, 2027
Parkside High Commencement, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 3, 2027
At the end of the school year, June 9-11, 2027 will be 3-hour early dismissal days, with June 11, 2027 the last day of school. Dates designated as inclement weather makeup days, if needed, are Jan. 29, March 25 and June 14.
The Board of Education and Wicomico County Public Schools appreciated receiving close to 1,560 responses on the calendar input survey this year. While the Pre Labor Day draft calendar did not receive as much support in the survey as the draft with a Post Labor Day start, the calendar approved by the Board provides the best instructional schedule for Wicomico’s students. School will begin in September while avoiding the latest start that the school calendar could possibly have, given that in 2026 Labor Day falls on the latest possible date of Sept. 7.