2024-25 and 2025-26 Calendar Voting Results

  • Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) has adopted school calendars for the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school years. The decision to adopt the new calendars was made after listening to GCPS families and staff.

    For the first time ever, GCPS provided all students, staff, and parents the opportunity to vote for a school calendar. There were four options. In acknowledgment and respect of the various religious holidays observed by members of our diverse community, two of the four calendar options available included shorter breaks in the winter and fall to allow for days off for Eid al-Fitr, Good Friday, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Diwali. Voting opened on September 19 and ended on October 22.

    When the votes were tallied, the results showed the overwhelming majority of respondents selected the calendar that is most similar to our current school calendar. We understand that the survey results may be disappointing to some, especially those who voted for a different calendar.

    Creating GCPS school calendars that include 180 days of instruction is a complex task. It involves considering numerous parameters and community expectations, such as having a full week off for Thanksgiving, ending the first semester by winter break, finishing the school year by Memorial Day, and recognizing additional religious holidays.

    While the calendar plays a crucial role in the school district’s operation, GCPS is committed to engaging with our diverse community to ensure the district remains culturally competent and respectful of the diversity that makes GCPS so strong.

    Although the new calendar does not include additional days off for religious holidays, as a reminder, the observance of religious holidays necessitating absence from school is considered an excused absence. For example, every year, as we approach Ramadan, an email is sent to principals with guidance on how to show respect and sensitivity to fasting students. This includes providing alternate locations for students to sit during lunchtime and activities that require accommodations during Ramadan (i.e., allowing fasting students to be exempt from rigorous activity in Physical Education- teachers may provide alternate activities during Ramadan).

    GCPS would like to thank everyone who ensured their voices were heard by voting. We appreciate and value your opinion and feedback.

Approved Calendars