The D225 Board of Education has finalized the calendar for the 2026-27 school year, with notable changes during Election Day and the removal of the 8-period day before first semester  final exams, according to a District 225 Memorandum, written by Ryan Bretag, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning.

By eliminating the 8-period final review day, the first semester will end on Thursday, Dec. 17, rather than Friday, Dec. 18, according to the same memorandum.

Additionally, due to the national general election on Nov. 3 being a holiday, students will attend school on Oct. 12, Indigenous Peoples’ Day. The second semester schedule has also been adjusted with the removal of the 8-period day, beginning on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2027, instead of Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2027, according to the same memorandum.

Approximately 49 percent of staff and 58 percent of student respondents gave the 8-period day a value of three or lower on a scale of one to 10 when the district sent a survey asking students and staff if they believed the 8-period day was valuable, according to the same memorandum.

The district appreciated the feedback from staff and students about the eight-period day, Bretag said. Students felt that by squeezing eight periods into one day, they were losing class time, and teachers felt the day was too crammed, Bretag said.

“Staff want what is best for students so they echoed the challenges that come with ‘squeezing’ a lot into one day,” Bretag said.

The 2026-27 school year will begin on Aug. 13 and end on May 24, 2027, with graduation taking place on May 23, 2027, Superintendent Dr. R.J. Gravel said.

“​​We wanted to maintain the original calendars start and end date,” Bretag said. “Plans have been underway and honoring that was vital. It was important to coordinate with all elementary districts to align calendars.”