With summer break coming mid-June, Pittsburgh Public Schools families have two important days off in May: Election Day on May 19 and Memorial Day on May 25.
The last stretch of the school year can feel like a moving target for families—especially when the calendar suddenly leaves you with fewer class days than you planned. For Pittsburgh Public Schools students and staff, that’s about to happen again.
Even with summer vacation set to arrive soon. the district has already placed two additional school holidays in May before schools close for the season. Tuesday, May 19 is Election Day, designated as a school holiday for students and staff. Then. a week and a half later. Monday. May 25 brings the next day off. with classes paused across the district to observe Memorial Day.
For most students, the school year doesn’t end there—it runs on toward the district’s summer cutoff. Summer vacation for all grade levels and teachers begins at the end of the school day on Friday, June 12. Students get just over 10 weeks before the new year resumes. while teachers and other staff return the week before classes resume.
The next school year’s first day is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 24 for grades first through 12th. Kindergarteners start later, with their first day on Thursday, Aug. 27. Teachers return to work on Tuesday, Aug. 18, and paraprofessionals head back to school on Friday, Aug. 21.
Looking further ahead. Pittsburgh Public Schools lists a full set of planned breaks and additional days off during the 2026–27 school year. Students will have spring and winter breaks, plus 12 additional days off: Labor Day (Monday, Sept. 7), Yom Kippur (Monday, Sept. 21), Election Day (Tuesday, Nov. 3), Veterans Day (Wednesday, Nov. 11), Thanksgiving (Thursday, Nov. 26 and Friday, Nov. 27), winter break (Thursday, Dec. 24 through Sunday, Jan. 3), Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (Monday, Jan. 18), clerical and professional development days (Thursday, Jan. 21 and Friday, Jan. 22). Eid al-Fitr (Wednesday. March 10). spring break (Monday. March 22 through Friday. March 26). primary election day (Tuesday. May 18). and Memorial Day (Monday. May 31).
Beyond full-day closures, the district also schedules eight half days across the year: Friday, Sept. 18; Friday, Oct. 9; Friday, Oct. 23; Friday, Nov. 20; Friday, Dec. 18; Friday, Feb. 12; Friday, Feb. 26; and Friday, March 12.
The summer timeline shifts slightly again for the following year. The 2026–27 school year wraps up for students on Tuesday, June 8, with teachers’ final day on Thursday, June 10.
By the time those last days arrive, Pittsburgh families will already have had a preview of how quickly the school calendar can change in May—first with Election Day on May 19, then with Memorial Day on May 25—before summer break closes the year.
Pittsburgh Public Schools Election Day school holiday Memorial Day school holiday May 19 May 25 summer break June 12 2026-27 school calendar Pittsburgh students