Summer break is almost over, and Florida students will be back in the classroom soon for the 2026-27 school year.
Thirty-eight of Florida's 67 counties will start classes on Monday, Aug. 10, the earliest date allowed by state law. The remaining districts will begin later that same week.
If you're still shopping for school supplies, there's still time to save. Florida's back-to-school sales tax holidayruns through Aug. 20, giving families extra time to pick up those last-minute essentials tax-free.
And while Florida schools are known for starting early, you might be surprised to learn that some students elsewhere in the U.S. head back to class even sooner.
Amazon helps students, parents with school prep
When does school start in Duval County for the 2026-2027 school year?
The first day of school forDuval County Public
Schools is Monday, August 10, 2026.
When does school start in St. John County for the 2026-2027 school year?
The first day of school for students in the St. Johns County School District is Monday, August 10, 2026.
When does school start in Nassau County for the 2026-2027 school year?
The first day of school for students in Nassau County School District is Monday, August 10, 2026.
When does school start in Clay County for the 2026-2027 school year?
The first day of school for Clay County Schools is Tuesday, August 11, 2026.
When is Florida's 2026 back-to-school sales tax holiday? See dates to shop in Jacksonville
Florida's 2026 back-to-school sales tax holiday for school supplies will run July 20 through Aug. 20.
When will summer vacation be over in Florida?
The earliest start date for Florida schools is Aug. 10, according to Florida Statute 1001.42.
To get in the number of required days in the first semester and working around holidays, school districts plan to start the school year in early August.
In 2026, Aug. 10 falls on a Monday.
How many days of school are required in Florida?
Districts in Florida must have at least 180 school days for students.
Districts try to get roughly 90 instructional days in each semester and aim to finish the first semester before winter break, the St. Johns County School District said.
Why don't Florida schools start closer to or after Labor Day?
"In order to meet the overwhelming response from the community to end the first semester before the winter holidayand to meet the Florida Statute requiring 67.5 hours per semester, the start date must occur close to the beginning of August," the St. Johns County School District said.
"In addition, we need to align with local college schedules for students taking dual enrollment classes."
When will 2026-2027 school year start in Florida counties?
Thirty-eight of Florida's 67 counties will start the 2026-2027 school year on the earliest possible date, Monday, Aug. 10. The latest start date in Florida — for three counties — is Thursday, Aug. 13.
See breakdown by county on when the 2026-2027 Florida school year will start:
- Alachua: Monday, Aug. 10
- Baker: Monday, Aug. 10
- Bay: Monday, Aug. 10
- Bradford: Tuesday, Aug. 11
- Brevard: Monday, Aug. 10
- Broward: Monday, Aug. 10
- Calhoun: Thursday, Aug. 13
- Charlotte: Monday, Aug. 10
- Citrus: Monday, Aug. 10
- Clay: Tuesday, Aug. 11
- Collier: Tuesday, Aug. 11
- Columbia: Monday, Aug. 10
- DeSoto: Monday, Aug. 10
- Dixie: Monday, Aug. 10
- Duval: Monday, Aug. 10
- Escambia: Wednesday, Aug. 12
- Flagler: Monday, Aug. 10
- Franklin: Tuesday, Aug. 11
- Gadsden: Tuesday, Aug. 11
- Gilchrist: Tuesday, Aug. 11
- Glades: Monday, Aug. 10
- Gulf: Monday, Aug. 10
- Hamilton: Monday, Aug. 10
- Hardee: Tuesday, Aug. 11
- Hendry: Monday, Aug. 10
- Hernando: Tuesday, Aug. 11
- Highlands: Tuesday, Aug. 11
- Hillsborough: Monday, Aug. 10
- Holmes: Wednesday, Aug. 12
- Indian River: Monday, Aug. 10
- Jackson: Wednesday, Aug. 12
- Jefferson: Tuesday, Aug. 11
- Lafayette: Monday, Aug. 10
- Lake: Monday, Aug. 10
- Lee: Tuesday, Aug. 11
- Leon: Wednesday, Aug. 12
- Levy: Monday, Aug. 10
- Liberty: Wednesday, Aug. 12
- Madison: Monday, Aug. 10
- Manatee: Monday, Aug. 10
- Marion: Monday, Aug. 10
- Martin: Monday, Aug. 10
- Miami-Dade:Thursday, Aug. 13
- Monroe: Wednesday, Aug. 12
- Nassau: Monday, Aug. 10
- Okaloosa: Tuesday, Aug. 11
- Okeechobee: Monday, Aug. 10
- Orange: Tuesday, Aug. 11
- Osceola: Monday, Aug. 10
- Palm Beach: Monday, Aug. 10
- Pasco: Thursday, Aug. 13
- Pinellas: Tuesday, Aug. 11
- Polk: Tuesday, Aug. 11
- Putnam: Monday, Aug. 10
- Santa Rosa: Monday, Aug. 10
- Sarasota: Monday, Aug. 10
- Seminole: Monday, Aug. 10
- St. Johns: Monday, Aug. 10
- St. Lucie: Monday, Aug. 10
- Sumter: Tuesday, Aug. 11
- Suwannee: Monday, Aug. 10
- Taylor: Tuesday, Aug. 11
- Union: Wednesday, Aug. 12
- Volusia: Monday, Aug. 10
- Wakulla: Monday, Aug. 10
- Walton: Tuesday, Aug. 11
- Washington: Wednesday, Aug. 12
Special note: Links to school calendars often change. Here's a state list of homepages for each Florida school district.
When is Jacksonville's 2026 back-to-school sales tax holiday? When does it end?
Florida's 2026 back-to-school sales tax holiday for school supplies, including clothing and computers, runs from July 20 through Aug. 20.
What school supplies will be tax-exempt this 2026-2027 school year? See list
The following items will be tax exempt from July 20-Aug. 20:
- Personal computers or personal computer-related accessories purchased for noncommercial home or personal use having a sales price of $1,500 or less
- Specific personal computer-related accessories
- Wallets and bags having a sales price of $100 or less
- School supplies having a sales price of $50 or less per item
- Learning aids and jigsaw puzzles having a sales price of $30 or less
- Clothing, footwear, and accessories having a sales price of $100 or less
Go to floridarevenue.com for a complete list of all items included in the sales tax holiday, along with exceptions.
Why aren't school calendars the same for all Florida counties?
The decision on what days schools should be closed is made by individual school districts.
Florida school districts develop their academic calendars with input from a variety of sources, including staff, families and calendar committees.
The final decision is made by each county's school board.
When will FAST testing be in Florida during 2026-2027 school year?
FAST testing during the 2026-2027 school year will be:
- March 29-April 9, 2027
- Writing, grades 4–10
- April 12-May 28, 2027 FAST PM3
- Grades K–2 FAST reading and mathematics
- May 3-28, 2027
- FAST PM3
- Grades 3-10 FAST ELA reading
- Grades 3-8 FAST mathematics
- Statewide Science Assessment
- Grades 5 & 8 science
- EOC Assessments
- Algebra 1, geometry, biology 1, civics, U.S. history
- FACT
- College algebra
- FAST PM3
Doris Alvarez is a Breaking and Trending Reporter for The Florida Times-Union. You can get all of Jacksonville’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free Daily Briefing and News Alerts newsletters at jacksonville.com/newsletter
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: When does school start in Jacksonville? See back-to-school dates
