Las Cruces Public Schools Calendar 2026-2027
The Las Cruces Public Schools Calendar for 2026-2027 runs July 24 to May 21. Below: every break and every random day off, sorted, counted and ready for your phone.
- First / last day
- Break
- No school
- Early release
Las Cruces Public Schools Calendar 2026-27 Key Dates
The whole Las Cruces Public Schools year fits in about 43 weeks, July 24 through May 21. The long breaks are the weeks to book early, before everyone else on the same calendar does.
| Event | Date | Days off |
|---|---|---|
| First day of school | Friday, July 24, 2026 | |
| Fall Break | October 5–9 | 5 weekdays |
| Thanksgiving Break | November 23–27 | 5 weekdays |
| Winter Break | December 21, 2026 – January 1, 2027 | 10 weekdays |
| Spring Break | March 15–19 | 5 weekdays |
| Second semester ends | Friday, May 21, 2027 |
Las Cruces Public Schools Calendar: The School Year by the Numbers
Add up the dates on the published calendar and the 2026-27 year comes to roughly 186 weekdays in class against 30 weekdays off, with 2 shortened days on top.
We worked every figure out from the district’s own dates, so one table shows how much of the year needs cover beyond the school day.
| Measure | 2026-27 |
|---|---|
| Weeks from first to last day | 43 |
| Weekdays of school (approx.) | 186 |
| Weekdays off for students | 30 |
| Early release / conference days | 2 |
| Long weekends outside breaks | 4 |
| Short weeks | 5 |
Las Cruces Public Schools Calendar: First Day of School 2026
The first day of school at Las Cruces Public Schools is Friday, July 24, 2026. Teachers report earlier, starting July 20. Summer ends here for every family in the district at once, so the trip home and the final week of camp both have to fit before it.
The district staggers the start by grade: First Day K/6/9 (transition) on Fri, Jul 24; First Day 1-5, 7-8, 10-12 on Mon, Jul 27. Check which group your child is in before you book the first week.
Because classes begin on a Friday, the opening week is only 1 day long. The first full week of school starts Monday, July 27.
Las Cruces Public Schools Calendar: Thanksgiving, Winter and Spring Break
These are the Las Cruces Public Schools breaks to plan around first. Each line gives the weekdays off and the full travel window with weekends added, which is the stretch airlines and rentals price.
- Fall Break: October 5–9 (5 weekdays with no school; classes resume Monday, October 12). Travel window Sat, Oct 3 – Sun, Oct 11, 9 days.
- Thanksgiving Break: November 23–27 (5 weekdays with no school; classes resume Monday, November 30). Travel window Sat, Nov 21 – Sun, Nov 29, 9 days.
- Winter Break: December 21, 2026 – January 1, 2027 (10 weekdays with no school; classes resume Monday, January 4). Travel window Sat, Dec 19 – Sun, Jan 3, 16 days.
- Spring Break: March 15–19 (5 weekdays with no school; classes resume Monday, March 22). Travel window Sat, Mar 13 – Sun, Mar 21, 9 days.
Las Cruces Public Schools Calendar: Days Off and Short Weeks
Outside the long breaks, students here have 5 single days off during the school year, and 5 weeks are shortened by at least one day off. In total that is 30 weekdays with no school between July 24 and May 21.
As one parent put it on Reddit, there is no childcare service that covers one random day every other week. These single days catch working parents out more than any break, so every one is listed below by date, ready to book off or cover weeks ahead.
3 Mondays and 1 Friday are off outside the breaks, which turns them into long weekends. The rest land mid-week, which is when parents most often need a sitter or a day of leave.
- Labor Day (no school): Mon, Sep 7
- Election Day (no school): Tue, Nov 3
- MLK Holiday (no school): Mon, Jan 18
- Presidents’ Day (no school): Mon, Feb 15
- Spring Holiday: Fri, Mar 26
| Weekday | Days off (outside long breaks) |
|---|---|
| Monday | 3 |
| Tuesday | 1 |
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Friday | 1 |
Las Cruces Public Schools Calendar: Long Weekends
Beyond the main breaks, the calendar sets up 4 long weekends of three days or more. These are the easiest short trips of the year because no school days are missed.
- Sat, Sep 5 – Mon, Sep 7 (3 days)
- Sat, Jan 16 – Mon, Jan 18 (3 days)
- Sat, Feb 13 – Mon, Feb 15 (3 days)
- Fri, Mar 26 – Sun, Mar 28 (3 days)
Las Cruces Public Schools Calendar: Early Release Days
Las Cruces Public Schools has 2 early release or conference days on the 2026-27 calendar, both on a Friday. Pickup moves earlier on these days, so after-school care has to start sooner.
- Parent/Teacher Conferences (no school): Fri, Aug 28
- Next Step Planning/Parent Teacher Conferences (no school K-12): Fri, Feb 12
Las Cruces Public Schools Calendar: Last Day of School 2027
The end of the second semester at Las Cruces Public Schools is Friday, May 21, 2027. The published calendar marks this date as "End Spring Semester/Quarter 4 Grades 1-5, 7-8, 10-11; Full day for staff/students" rather than naming a last day, so treat it as the end of classes.
The first semester ends Friday, December 18, 2026, which splits the year into two halves for grading.
Grading periods as the calendar marks them: Grading period 1: July 24 – October 2 (about 10 weeks); Grading period 2: October 12 – December 18 (about 10 weeks); Grading period 3: January 4 – March 12 (about 10 weeks); Grading period 4: March 22 – May 20 (about 8 weeks); Grading period 5: May 21 – May 21 (about 1 week). Report cards and conference weeks usually follow each end date.
Las Cruces Public Schools Calendar Month by Month
Each month of the school year is drawn below, with days off, breaks and early releases colored in. The table counts the weekdays with no school and the early release days per month, which is the quickest way to see when you will need extra childcare.
December is the busiest month, with 9 weekdays off, so it is the one to line up cover for first.
- End of Quarter 1: Fri, Oct 2
- End of Fall semester End of Quarter 2 Full day for staff/students: Fri, Dec 18
- End of Quarter 3: Fri, Mar 12
- End Spring Semester/Quarter 4 Grades K/6/9: Thu, May 20
- Graduation Organ Mountain 9:00, Arrowhead 1:30, Mayfield 6:00: Fri, May 21
- End Spring Semester/Quarter 4 Grades 1-5, 7-8, 10-11; Full day for staff/students: Fri, May 21
- Graduation Las Cruces 9:00, Rio Grande Prep 1:30, Centennial 6:00: Sat, May 22
| Month | Weekdays off | Early releases |
|---|---|---|
| July | 0 | 0 |
| August | 0 | 1 |
| September | 1 | 0 |
| October | 5 | 0 |
| November | 6 | 0 |
| December | 9 | 0 |
| January | 2 | 0 |
| February | 1 | 1 |
| March | 6 | 0 |
| May | 0 | 0 |
| June | 0 | 0 |
How the Las Cruces Public Schools Calendar Compares in New Mexico
Las Cruces Public Schools is the first of the 12 New Mexico districts on this site to open, on July 24. The last to start is Artesia Public Schools on August 13.
3 districts in the state finish earlier, starting with Deming Public Schools on May 19.
Winter break here is 10 weekdays, the typical length across New Mexico.
3 other districts share the same spring break week, including Farmington Municipal Schools, Ruidoso Municipal Schools, Artesia Public Schools. That matters if cousins or split households cross district lines.
Across the school year it gives 30 weekdays off; the typical New Mexico district here gives 28. It has 2 early release or conference days, fewer than the usual 3.
Where the Las Cruces Public Schools Calendar Dates Come From
We read the calendar Las Cruces Public Schools posted on lcps.net and copied each date as printed. The version used here was approved by the school board on February 18, 2025. Every date was also checked against its weekday, which is how a misread month gets caught before it reaches this page.
The link below opens the district’s own file, so any date here can be confirmed in one click. Add the calendar file to your phone once and the whole Las Cruces Public Schools year sits next to your work meetings instead of in a file you have to dig up again.
Updated · official calendar file · lcps.net
More New Mexico School Calendars
Comparing districts nearby? See every district side by side on the New Mexico School Calendars 2026-2027 page.
Las Cruces Public Schools Calendar FAQ
When does Las Cruces Public Schools start in 2026?
- Friday, July 24, 2026. Some grades start later; see the first-day section above.
When is the last day of school for Las Cruces Public Schools in 2027?
- The second semester ends Friday, May 21, 2027.
When is Las Cruces Public Schools spring break 2027?
- March 15–19, 5 weekdays off.
Does Las Cruces Public Schools get the whole week of Thanksgiving off?
- Yes: Thanksgiving break runs November 23–27, 5 weekdays.
How long is Las Cruces Public Schools winter break?
- December 21, 2026 – January 1, 2027: 10 weekdays off. Counting the weekends around it, that is 16 days in a row without school, Sat, Dec 19 – Sun, Jan 3.
When are Las Cruces Public Schools early release days?
- Friday, August 28 and Friday, February 12. Pickup moves earlier on each of them, so line up after-school care now.
How many days off does Las Cruces Public Schools have outside the breaks?
- 5 single days spread across the year, with 5 shortened weeks. Parents on Reddit call these the hardest days to cover, so they are listed above by date.
Will snow days extend the Las Cruces Public Schools school year?
- The published calendar does not list make-up days, so any added days would come from a later district announcement.