BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — Summer vacation will give way to backpacks, buses and classrooms Aug. 5 when Martin County students begin the 2026-2027 school year.
The Martin County School District calendar maps out 170 instructional days, with breaks spread from early October through spring.
July will belong to teachers and staff, who will report for professional development July 28-30. They will return for another professional development day Aug. 3.
Aug. 4 brings opening day for employees.
Students arrive the following morning for their first day of classes.
September offers two breaks from the regular schedule. Schools will close for the Labor Day holiday Sept. 7. Students will also have no school Sept. 18.
October brings the first extended vacation. Fall break will run Oct. 5-9, giving students a full week away from classes.
November begins with two days off for students. Teachers will complete professional learning Nov. 2, and schools will close for Election Day Nov. 3.
The district will also dismiss students for the entire week of Thanksgiving. Teachers will have professional learning days Nov. 23 and 24. Nov. 25 and 27 are break days, while Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26, is a holiday.
December classes will continue through Dec. 18. Winter break begins Dec. 21 and runs through Dec. 31.
January opens with the New Year’s Day holiday Jan. 1. Students will return to class Jan. 4.
Schools will close again Jan. 18 for a holiday.
February contains no scheduled holidays, professional learning days or breaks.
March also carries a full schedule as students move toward the final stretch of the school year.
April brings spring break April 5-9. Students will return April 12 for the final month of classes.
May wraps up the school year. The final student day is scheduled for May 11, followed by closing day May 12. Teachers will finish the year with professional learning days May 13 and 14.
The calendar includes four holidays, four professional development days, five professional learning days, one opening day and one closing day. Teachers will work 185 contract days.