School year planning

Louisiana School Calendar

Louisiana schools typically start in early August and wrap up late May.

Districts set their own calendars, so use the dates below as a guide and confirm with your local school system.

When does school start?

early August

When does school end?

late May

Winter break

roughly two weeks from around December 22 through early January

Spring break

one week in late March or early April

About the Louisiana school year

Louisiana public schools start notably early — most districts open the first or second week of August. A distinctive feature of the Louisiana school calendar is a Mardi Gras break, typically lasting three to five days in February or early March depending on when Mardi Gras falls each year. This break is observed statewide but exact dates shift with the Mardi Gras date. The state requires 177 days of instruction. Jefferson Parish and East Baton Rouge are the largest traditional public school districts, while Orleans Parish operates primarily through a charter school model (NOLA Public Schools).

Largest school districts in Louisiana

  • Jefferson Parish Schools
  • East Baton Rouge Parish School System
  • St. Tammany Parish Public Schools
  • Calcasieu Parish School System
  • NOLA Public Schools (Orleans Parish)

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Frequently Asked Questions

When does school start in Louisiana?

Louisiana public schools typically begin in early August, often in the first or second week of the month. This is earlier than most states and is consistent across most of the state's 69 parishes.

When is spring break in Louisiana?

Spring break in Louisiana generally falls in late March or early April and lasts about one week. Timing varies by parish; some districts schedule spring break around Easter, which can shift the dates from year to year.

When does the school year end in Louisiana?

Most Louisiana public schools finish in late May. Because the school year begins in early August and the state requires 177 instructional days, the year typically wraps up by the third or fourth week of May.

How long is winter break in Louisiana schools?

Winter break in Louisiana public schools typically runs about two weeks, from around December 22 through early January. In addition to winter break, Louisiana students also observe a Mardi Gras break in February or early March, a feature unique to Louisiana.

Want to count down the days? Browse school countdowns or see school calendars for every state.

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