When is MLK Day 2027?

Monday, January 18, 2027, the third Monday in January.

Why is MLK Day in January?

It marks Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday, January 15. Federal law sets the holiday on the third Monday in January (5 U.S.C. 6103), which in 2027 is January 18.

MLK Day is a federal holiday, so don't all schools have to close?

No. Federal holidays close federal offices; school calendars are set by states and districts. 168 of the 179 districts we track have no school, and in West Virginia state law requires schools to close that day (W. Va. Code §18A-5-2).

If teachers work on MLK Day, do students still have school?

Not necessarily. Some calendars mark MLK Day as a teacher training day with no students; on this site a day counts as no school whenever students do not attend, whatever the teachers do.

MLK Day 2027: Is There School in Your State?

Is There School on MLK Day 2027 (Monday, January 18)? In 168 of the 179 school districts we track (94%), there is no school; the other 11 hold class.

MLK Day 2027: districts with no school, by state

No schoolSchool in session

state	Districts with no school	Answer
Connecticut	27 of 27	No school
Louisiana	9 of 9	No school
Mississippi	9 of 9	No school
Missouri	18 of 18	No school
New Hampshire	13 of 13	No school
New Mexico	14 of 14	No school
Rhode Island	14 of 14	No school
West Virginia	11 of 11	No school
Arkansas	13 of 14	Depends on district
Iowa	10 of 11	Depends on district
Kansas	10 of 11	Depends on district
North Dakota	8 of 9	Depends on district
Nebraska	12 of 19	Depends on district

By the School Year Calendars team · Updated October 18, 2026

MLK Day 2027: Is There School?

MLK Day 2027 falls on Monday, January 18, 2027. 168 districts of the 179 on this site (94%) have no school that day, so nearly every family we cover has the day off; the state sections below show where the other 11 hold class. Within a single state the answer can differ: Arkansas (13 of 14 closed), Iowa (10 of 11 closed), Kansas (10 of 11 closed), Nebraska (12 of 19 closed) and North Dakota (8 of 9 closed).

MLK Day 2027: Is There School in Each State?

In Connecticut, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Rhode Island and West Virginia, every district we cover is closed.

Louisiana: no school in every district we cover

On MLK Day 2027, all 9 Louisiana districts we cover have no school.

Mississippi: no school in every district we cover

On MLK Day 2027, all 9 Mississippi districts we cover have no school.

Missouri: no school in every district we cover

On MLK Day 2027, all 18 Missouri districts we cover have no school.

Nebraska: no school in 12 of 19 districts

On MLK Day 2027, 12 Nebraska districts we cover have no school and 7 hold class. Closed: Lincoln Public Schools, Millard Public Schools, Elkhorn Public Schools, Bellevue Public Schools, Hastings Public Schools, Fremont Public Schools, Westside Community Schools, Bennington Public Schools, Waverly School District 145, Ralston Public Schools, York Public Schools, Beatrice Public Schools. In class: Grand Island Public Schools, Lexington Public Schools, Kearney Public Schools, Seward Public Schools, Crete Public Schools, Gering Public Schools, North Platte Public Schools.

New Hampshire: no school in every district we cover

On MLK Day 2027, all 13 New Hampshire districts we cover have no school.

New Mexico: no school in every district we cover

On MLK Day 2027, all 14 New Mexico districts we cover have no school.

North Dakota: no school in 8 of 9 districts

On MLK Day 2027, 8 North Dakota districts we cover have no school and 1 holds class. Closed: Fargo Public Schools, Bismarck Public Schools, West Fargo Public Schools, Grand Forks Public Schools, Mandan Public Schools, Dickinson Public Schools, Valley City Public Schools, Williston Basin School District 7. In class: Jamestown Public Schools.

Rhode Island: no school in every district we cover

On MLK Day 2027, all 14 Rhode Island districts we cover have no school.

West Virginia: no school in every district we cover

On MLK Day 2027, all 11 West Virginia districts we cover have no school.

Does State Law Close Schools on MLK Day 2027?

In some states, yes. West Virginia law lists Martin Luther King's birthday among the legal school holidays on which schools shall be closed (W. Va. Code §18A-5-2). Elsewhere the decision belongs to each district's school board, which is why neighboring districts can differ.

MLK Day 2027 and Presidents' Day: Which Districts Close Both?

126 districts have no school on both Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 18) and Presidents' Day (February 15). See which districts close on Presidents' Day 2027, and which weeks spring break 2027 falls on in each state.

Where Does This MLK Day 2027 School Data Come From?

Every MLK Day 2027 date here comes from the 2026-27 calendar each district published on its own website; the latest check was October 15, 2026, and the state law text was read on October 18, 2026. A district counts as closed when its calendar shows no school for students that day, whether it is listed as a holiday or as a teacher workday with no students. One official calendar per state is linked below, and how we read every calendar is on the About page.

West Virginia state lawStatute text
Bentonville Schools 2026-27 calendarArkansas
Stamford Public Schools 2026-27 calendarConnecticut
Iowa City Community School District 2026-27 calendarIowa
Olathe Public Schools 2026-27 calendarKansas
Lafayette Parish School System 2026-27 calendarLouisiana
Rankin County School District 2026-27 calendarMississippi
Springfield Public Schools 2026-27 calendarMissouri
Lincoln Public Schools 2026-27 calendarNebraska
Pinkerton Academy 2026-27 calendarNew Hampshire
Albuquerque Public Schools 2026-27 calendarNew Mexico
Fargo Public Schools 2026-27 calendarNorth Dakota
Cranston Public Schools 2026-27 calendarRhode Island
Berkeley County Schools 2026-27 calendarWest Virginia

MLK Day 2027: Is There School in Your State? FAQ

Is there school on MLK Day 2027?: It depends on the district: 168 of the 179 districts we track (94%) have no school on Monday, January 18, 2027; the other 11 hold class.
Which states close schools on Martin Luther King Jr. Day?: Every district we cover in Connecticut, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Rhode Island and West Virginia is closed.
When is MLK Day 2027?: Monday, January 18, 2027, the third Monday in January.
Why is MLK Day in January?: It marks Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday, January 15. Federal law sets the holiday on the third Monday in January (5 U.S.C. 6103), which in 2027 is January 18.
MLK Day is a federal holiday, so don't all schools have to close?: No. Federal holidays close federal offices; school calendars are set by states and districts. 168 of the 179 districts we track have no school, and in West Virginia state law requires schools to close that day (W. Va. Code §18A-5-2).
If teachers work on MLK Day, do students still have school?: Not necessarily. Some calendars mark MLK Day as a teacher training day with no students; on this site a day counts as no school whenever students do not attend, whatever the teachers do.