FHSD Staff, Families and Community Members:

Changes have been made to the 2025-26 school year calendar; as a result, the first day of school is now Monday, August 18, 2025. Other changes are listed below.

There has long been a desire to allow secondary students to complete final exams before Winter Break. Such a change would also support students who graduate early to pursue military or college options. Several calendar adjustments were necessary to accommodate this request. Please reference the revised calendar and update any entries you may have saved in your planner or calendar apps.

Changes to the 2025-26 School Year Calendar:

• FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL - The school year will begin one day earlier. The first day of school is now Monday, August 18, 2025.  Teachers will return to work on Thursday, August 7, 2025.

• OCTOBER 31, 2025 - Previously a Teacher PD Day, students will now attend school on Friday, October 31, 2025.

• WINTER BREAK - Winter Break dates have been adjusted; final exams will be given prior to Winter Break. Monday, December 22, 2025 is now a student attendance day, and an early release day for all students. Winter Break begins on Tuesday, December 23, 2025. Teachers will engage in professional development on Monday, January 5, 2026. Students will return to school after Winter Break on Tuesday, January 6, 2026.

• JANUARY 12, 2026 - Previously a Teacher Work Day, students will now attend school on Monday, January 12, 2026.

Families are encouraged to schedule doctor and dentist appointments when school is not in session to promote good student attendance.

During the 2025-2026 school year, students will not attend school on the following dates:



• September 1 - Labor Day
• September 19 - Teacher PD Day
• October 20 - 24 - Fall Break
• November 4 - Election Day / Teacher PD Day
• November 26 - 28 - Thanksgiving Break
• December 23 - January 2 - Winter Break
• January 5 - Teacher Work Day
• January 19 - Martin Luther King Jr Day
• February 13 - Teacher PD Day
• February 16 - Presidents Day
• March 23-27 - Spring Break
• April 3 - Spring Holiday (Good Friday)
• April 7 - Election Day / Teacher PD Day

2025-2026 Early Dismissal dates:

• October 17 - Early Release Day (Elementary / Early Childhood Only)
• December 19 - Early Release Day (Middle and High Schools Only)
• December 22 - Early Release Day (All Schools)
• January 16 - Partial School Day (All Schools)
• March 13 - Early Release Day (Elementary / Early Childhood Only)
• March 20 - Partial School Day (All Schools)
• May 21 - Early Release Day (Middle and High Schools Only)
• May 22 - Early Release Day (All Schools) - Last Day of School



Refer to the 2025-26 Student Academic Calendar for Collaboration Wednesday - Early Release dates for secondary schools.

Snow Days

The District will utilize up to five Alternative Methods of Instruction (AMI) Days during the 2025-2026 school year. Any additional snow days beyond that will be made up at the end of the school year, beginning after Memorial Day on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. Snow days will also impact the early release days scheduled at the end of fourth quarter; those days will shift forward as we make up snow days and will always occur on the final student attendance day(s). Due to Senate Bill 727’s requirement that Missouri school districts maintain a calendar of 169 days or more, all snow days after AMI must be made up. Because we cannot predict how many snow days we will experience, a definitive last day of school cannot be determined at this time. Please keep the snow day make-up requirements in mind when scheduling summer vacations and events.

Looking Ahead: The 2026-2027 Calendar

The Board of Education recently approved the 2026-27 school year calendar. Collaboration-Wednesday Early Release dates have not yet been set. Other dates are subject to change based on legislative changes and agreements with our employee representation groups. Families are encouraged to reference the Calendar tab on the District website for the latest information.