<P> In the United States, the academic year typically has about 180 school days for K - 12, running from the early (Northern Hemisphere) fall to early summer . Colleges and universities often have shorter years . School holidays (also referred to as vacations, breaks, and recess) are the periods during which schools are closed . </P> <P> Public schools for grades K - 12 typically have the following vacations and holidays: </P> <Ul> <Li> All federal and state holidays . </Li> <Li> Thanksgiving Holiday - Fourth Thursday in November . Usually Black Friday is also a holiday marked "Day After Thanksgiving" and the Wednesday before is often a holiday or early - dismissal day . Some schools give students the entire fourth week of November off . </Li> <Li> Christmas / Holiday break - Typically there are no classes on Christmas Eve and December 23 might be a half - day . The break lasts until first weekday in January after New Year's Day . In years where January 1 falls on a Sunday (such as 2017), New Year's Day is federally celebrated on Monday and classes begin on Tuesday, January 3 . Some areas include the entirety of the Christmas or New Year's week in the vacation . </Li> <Li> Fall break - (not taken in all parts of the country) one to two weeks in September or October, sometimes coinciding with Labor Day . </Li> <Li> Winter break - (not taken in all parts of the country) one week in February or March, sometimes coinciding with Presidents' Day . </Li> <Li> Spring break - one week in March or April (usually around Easter). </Li> <Li> Summer break - Around 10--11 weeks, either from end of May to early August, early June to Mid-August, or the end of June to the day after Labor Day in early September, - depending on region and state . Except that students with disabilities may receive special education services during the summer as mentioned in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act . The break generally includes Independence Day . </Li> <Li> Religious holidays such as Good Friday, Jewish holidays, and Islamic holidays - depending on school demographics . </Li> <Li> Many public schools also have Teacher's Day Off / In - Service (Convention) / Professional Day 2 or 3 days per year, usually devoted to professional development . </Li> </Ul> <Li> All federal and state holidays . </Li>

When do public schools get out for summer