When Is Fall Break for Washington County School District? Quick Answer
Washington County School District (WCSD) students have no school Thursday, October 15, through Monday, October 19, 2026. The district's 2026–27 calendar lists Oct. 15–16 as Fall Break and Monday, Oct. 19, as a Legislative Teacher Prep/Professional Development Day with no school for students. Counting the weekend, that's five days off. Classes resume Tuesday, October 20.
The calendar also sets the end of the first grading period around the break. For middle and high schools, the first quarter ends Wednesday, Oct. 14, and the second quarter starts Oct. 19. Elementary schools run on trimesters, and the first trimester ends Friday, Oct. 30.
One exception: the district posts a separate calendar for its Enterprise schools, which take Fall Break on Oct. 19–20 with a professional development day, no school, on Oct. 21.
| Date | What it means for students |
|---|---|
| Wed, Oct 14 | Last day of first quarter (secondary schools) |
| Thu–Fri, Oct 15–16 | Fall Break, no school |
| Mon, Oct 19 | Teacher prep/PD day, no school; second quarter starts |
| Tue, Oct 20 | Students return |
| Fri, Oct 30 | Last day of first trimester (elementary) |
| Wed, Nov 25 | SEP/SEOP comp recess day, no school |
| Thu–Fri, Nov 26–27 | Thanksgiving Vacation, no school |
| Mon, Nov 30 | Teacher prep/PD day, no school |
| Fri, Dec 18 | Last day of second quarter (secondary) |
| Dec 21–Jan 1 | Christmas Vacation/Winter Holiday, no school |
| Mon, Jan 4 | Teacher Prep Day, no school |
Source: Washington County School District 2026–2027 Calendar, updated April 22, 2026. Enterprise schools follow a separate calendar for Fall Break.
What Does the Rest of the 2026–27 School Year Look Like?
After fall break, WCSD families get three more long stretches off before the end of the calendar year:
- Thanksgiving: No school from Wednesday, Nov. 25, through Monday, Nov. 30. Wednesday is listed as an SEP/SEOP comp recess day, Thursday and Friday are Thanksgiving Vacation, and Monday is a teacher prep/PD day. Students return Tuesday, Dec. 1.
- Winter break: Christmas Vacation/Winter Holiday runs Monday, Dec. 21, through Friday, Jan. 1. Monday, Jan. 4, is a Teacher Prep Day with no school, so students return Tuesday, Jan. 5.
- End of terms: The secondary second quarter runs Oct. 19 to Dec. 18. The elementary second trimester runs Nov. 2 to Feb. 12.
The rest of the year, per the same calendar:
| Date | No school / key date |
|---|---|
| Mon, Jan 18 | Martin Luther King, Jr. Day |
| Mon, Feb 15 | Presidents Day |
| Fri, Mar 5 | Teacher prep/PD day |
| Mar 8–12 | Spring Break |
| Fri, Mar 26 | Easter Break |
| Thu–Fri, Apr 15–16 | Teacher prep/PD day and Spring Recess |
| Wed, May 26 | Last day of school |
The calendar also lists minimum days for elementary students Feb. 22–26 for SEP conferences, and a minimum day May 25 for high school graduation. Secondary SEP dates vary by school, and the district tells parents to check their school's website.
Why Is October 19 a No-School Day?
The district labels Oct. 19 a "Legislative Teacher Prep/Professional Development Day." The calendar notes that it includes four of these days, under Utah Code 53F-2-102, on Oct. 19, Nov. 30, Mar. 5 and Apr. 15. Teachers work those days; students stay home. That's why both fall break and Thanksgiving stretch into a Monday this year.
What About Iron County, Charter and Private Schools?
This calendar applies only to Washington County School District schools. Iron County School District in Cedar City, charter schools and private schools set their own calendars, and their fall breaks don't necessarily line up with WCSD's. Check your school's own calendar; for Iron County, that's on the district's site at irondistrict.org. For a rundown of the area's districts, charters and colleges, see our Southern Utah education guide.
Things to Do Over Fall Break
Mid-October is one of the better weeks of the year to be outside in Southern Utah. A few places to start planning:
- Fall colors: Our Southern Utah fall colors guide covers where to find color within a drive of St. George, from Cedar Breaks and the high country to the lower elevations where color arrives later.
- Pumpkin patches and Halloween: See our pumpkin patches and Halloween events roundup for corn mazes, patches and trunk-or-treats.
- Everything else this week: Browse the Southern Utah events calendar and our fall things-to-do guide.
Heading to Zion? UDOT says fiber optic crews are working on SR-9 in Springdale, near mileposts 28–30, through about Oct. 16, with one-way traffic, minor delays and pedestrian and bike detours. Paving west of the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel is scheduled Monday through Thursday through Oct. 22. Details are in our Zion fiber project update, and the latest on the switchbacks is in our SR-9 rockfall update.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is fall break 2026 for Washington County School District?
Thursday, Oct. 15, and Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, are Fall Break. Monday, Oct. 19, is a teacher prep/professional development day with no school, so students are off Thursday through Monday and return Tuesday, Oct. 20.
Do Enterprise schools have the same fall break?
No. WCSD's Enterprise calendar lists Fall Break on Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 19–20, with a professional development day, no school, on Wednesday, Oct. 21.
How many days off do WCSD students get for Thanksgiving 2026?
Students are off Wednesday, Nov. 25, through Monday, Nov. 30, and return Tuesday, Dec. 1. That's an SEP/SEOP comp recess day, two Thanksgiving Vacation days and a teacher prep/PD day.
When is winter break for Washington County schools?
Christmas Vacation/Winter Holiday runs Dec. 21, 2026, through Jan. 1, 2027. Monday, Jan. 4, is a Teacher Prep Day with no school, so students return Tuesday, Jan. 5.
When does the first quarter end?
For WCSD middle and high schools, the first quarter ends Wednesday, Oct. 14, and the second quarter begins Oct. 19. Elementary schools' first trimester ends Friday, Oct. 30.
Sources: Washington County School District 2026–2027 Calendar (updated April 22, 2026) and 2026–2027 Enterprise calendar, both linked from the district's District Calendars page; UDOT SR-9 Zion Canyon Technology project page (construction update of October 8, 2026).
