Chicago Schools Set Reopening Dates: Chicago Public School Calendar for 2020-21
Chicago's 2020-2021 school year has been unlike any we’ve ever experienced. Parents have had to stay up-to-date and roll with the punches more than ever, and now there’s finally an update for Chicago school kids: CPS and the teacher's union have reached a deal, and kids (depending on age and family preference) have already headed back to in-person learning.
Read on for all the dates and details of the current 2020-21 school year plan—and let us help you navigate the challenges of pandemic-era parenting with the Mommy Poppins Stay-at-Home Guide.
Chicago Public Schools Return to In-Person Learning
After a long period of negotiations between CPS and the Chicago Teachers Union, the union approved a deal with the district to get kids back to the classroom. Kids in elementary and middle schools have already returned to the classroom if they so chose. High schools have kept kids at home a little longer, and kids in grades 9-12 are still remote learning. High school students are scheduled to return to campuses beginning April 19, though the Chicago Teacher's Union has requested that the date be pushed back a week, as a response to the current spike in COVID-19 cases. However, no decisions to push back this date have been made.
All parents can opt to keep their children in remote learning if they wish. Updates and details are available on the CPS website.
Note that many local preschools follow the public school schedule, too. You'll want to bookmark the Chicago Public School Calendar for the 2020-2021 school year now for reference—and to help with planning family vacations and school break camp coverage.
Meanwhile, below are all of the dates you can count on your kiddos being out of school—or away from their remote learning device—during the 2020-2021 school year.
Chicago Public School Calendar for 2020-2021
First Day of School: Tuesday, September 8, 2020
Winter Vacation - Schools are closed from December 21, 2020 to January 1, 2021.
Spring Vacation - Schools are closed from March 29, 2021 to April 2, 2021.
Last Day of School: Tuesday, June 22, 2021
2020-2021 Chicago Public School Holidays and Student Non-Attendance Days:
Monday, October 12 - Columbus Day
Friday, November 6 - School Improvement Day (non-attendance day for students)
Wednesday, November 11 - Veterans Day
Wednesday, November 25 to Friday, November 27 - Thanksgiving Break
Monday, December 21, 2020 to Friday, January 1, 2021 - Winter Vacation
Monday, January 18, 2021 - M. L. King Day
Friday, February 5, 2021 - School Improvement Day (non-attendance day for students)
Monday, February 15, 2021 - Presidents Day
Monday, March 29, 2021 to Friday, April 2, 2021 - Spring Vacation
Friday, April 16, 2021 - School Improvement Day (non-attendance day for students)
Monday, May 31, 2021 - Memorial Day
June 23, 2021 - School Improvement Day (non-attendance day for students)
For the full calendar, including all parent-teacher conference days, please see the CPS PDF with all the dates.