School year planning
Wisconsin School Calendar
Wisconsin schools typically start in late August to early September; the state's Pupil Nondiscrimination law once restricted early starts, and many districts open in the first week of September and wrap up early to mid-June.
Districts set their own calendars, so use the dates below as a guide and confirm with your local school system.
When does school start?
late August to early September; the state's Pupil Nondiscrimination law once restricted early starts, and many districts open in the first week of September
When does school end?
early to mid-June
Winter break
roughly two weeks spanning the last week of December and the first week of January
Spring break
one week in late March to early April; the timing varies widely by district
About the Wisconsin school year
Wisconsin has no statewide mandatory start date, and the Department of Public Instruction does not require calendar uniformity. Many suburban and rural districts start in late August, while some urban districts (including Milwaukee) often start in early September. Spring break timing varies more in Wisconsin than in many states — some districts take it in late March, others in mid-April. The state requires 180 instructional days or the equivalent in hours.
Largest school districts in Wisconsin
- Milwaukee Public Schools
- Madison Metropolitan School District
- Kenosha Unified School District
- Racine Unified School District
- Green Bay Area Public School District
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Get the Free Countdown AppFrequently Asked Questions
When does school start in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin public schools typically start in late August or early September. There is no state-mandated start date, so individual districts choose their opening day — some begin in the last week of August, others after Labor Day.
When is spring break in Wisconsin?
Spring break in Wisconsin generally falls somewhere between late March and mid-April, lasting about one week. The exact dates vary significantly from district to district.
When does the school year end in Wisconsin?
Most Wisconsin public schools wrap up in early to mid-June, after completing the required 180 instructional days. The exact end date depends on each district's calendar and any snow day makeup days.
How long is winter break in Wisconsin schools?
Winter break in Wisconsin typically lasts about two weeks, covering the last week of December and the first week of January, with students returning in early January.
Want to count down the days? Browse school countdowns or see school calendars for every state.
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