Are schools closed on Presidents Day? What families should know

Short answer: it depends. School closures for Presidents Day vary from district to district, and some states observe different or additional holidays around the same time. Families should check local school calendars and official district communications for the final word on closures.

Why closures differ

There is no single nationwide rule that forces schools to close on Presidents Day. School calendars are set at the state or district level, and those authorities decide whether to treat the federal observance as a day off for students and staff. That means one district may be closed while a neighboring district remains open. In some places, districts use the day for staff development or to make up missed instructional time, while others designate it as a holiday.

One example: separate state holiday observance

Some states mark different holidays that fall near Presidents Day. For example, one state observes President Abraham Lincoln’s birthday as a state and county holiday on a Thursday. In that state, most of the city’s roughly 14, 000 state employees are scheduled to have the day off and courthouses will be closed. The same notice points out that banks and financial institutions will remain open because Lincoln’s birthday is not a federal holiday. That illustrates how local and state observances can diverge from federal practice and affect public operations differently.

What parents and guardians should do

Because policies vary, families should take these practical steps:

• Check the official calendar posted by your school district for the current academic year.
• Watch for messages from your school or district office email, phone, or the district’s notification system in the days leading up to the holiday.
• If your student attends a private or parochial school, contact the school directly — private institutions set their own calendars.
• Confirm aftercare and transportation schedules, since bus routes and before/after-school programs may operate on a different timetable or close even if classes are in session.

In short, whether schools close on Presidents Day is a local decision. Use your school district’s communications and calendar as the authoritative source for your family’s schedule.