2023-24 School Year Calendar Survey and Webinar Highlights

Calendar Survey and Calendar Webinar results are among the multiple factors FCPS considers when developing the school year calendar.

Below are highlights from the 2023-24 School Year Calendar Survey as well as the Calendar Webinar. The survey was open from November 14 through December 1, 2022. The Calendar Webinar was held on December 1, 2022.

Highlights include:

• All groups were somewhat happy with this year’s calendar.
• All groups preferred full student holidays for professional development days.
• Employees with a preference preferred shortening the school day to accommodate extra planning time. Families and the community preferred clustered student holidays.
• No group favored extending the school year to add additional student holidays.
• Employees were unwilling to shorten Spring and Winter Breaks. Families and the community were willing to shorten Winter Break by one day and to have school the day before Thanksgiving. Students were willing to shorten Spring Break by one day.
• Employees and students preferred starting two weeks before Labor day. Families and the community favored starting one week before the holiday.
• All groups preferred longer Winter and Spring Breaks.
• Families preferred a fixed date for Spring Break. Students, employees, and the community preferred it to rotate with the timing of Easter.
• Alignment with surrounding jurisdictions was considered extremely important by employees, somewhat important by students, and not at all important by families and the community.

See how FCPS develops its school year calendar.