School board approves three-year calendar

The Fairfax County School Board has adopted a school calendar for the next three years with a school start date well before Labor Day.

The 2023-24 school year will start on Aug. 21 and end on June 12. There will be a two-week winter break (Dec. 18-29).

The school board approved the calendar by a 7-5 vote on Feb. 9 following a contentious meeting that lasted more than five hours.

Several board members complained that after many meetings, surveys, and community feedback on draft calendar options, the superintendent presented a revised version just before the meeting.

The calendars for the next three years will have 180 days of instruction and 15 professional workdays for teachers and staff. Spring break (March 25-29, 2023) is aligned with that of surrounding school systems, as many FCPS employees live outside Fairfax County.

The 2023-24 calendar designates six full school days and five evenings as “religious and cultural observance days.” Students are allowed to miss school for these observances, and teachers are urged not to schedule tests or important activities on these days.

Cultural observances and holidays have been adjusted for future calendars depending on whether they fall on a weekday or weekend.