Benton School District Calendar 2026-2027
The Benton School District Calendar for 2026-2027 runs August 12 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
Benton School District Calendar 2026-27 Key Dates
Here is the Benton School District year at a glance: roughly 40 weeks from the first bell on August 12 to May 21. Every family in the district books the same break weeks, so these are the dates to lock in before prices climb.
| Event | Date | Days off |
|---|---|---|
| First day of school | Wednesday, August 12, 2026 | |
| Fall Break | October 16–20 | 3 weekdays |
| Thanksgiving Break | November 23–27 | 5 weekdays |
| Winter Break | December 21, 2026 – January 4, 2027 | 11 weekdays |
| Spring Break | March 19–26 | 6 weekdays |
| Second semester ends | Friday, May 21, 2027 |
Benton School District Calendar: The School Year by the Numbers
Add up the dates on the published calendar and the 2026-27 year comes to roughly 174 weekdays in class against 29 weekdays off, with 4 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 | 40 |
| Weekdays of school (approx.) | 174 |
| Weekdays off for students | 29 |
| Early release / conference days | 4 |
| Long weekends outside breaks | 4 |
| Short weeks | 8 |
Benton School District Calendar: First Day of School 2026
The first day of school at Benton School District is Wednesday, August 12, 2026. Teachers report earlier, starting August 3. 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.
Because classes begin on a Wednesday, the opening week is only 3 days long. The first full week of school starts Monday, August 17.
Benton School District Calendar: Thanksgiving, Winter and Spring Break
Long breaks are where travel and childcare costs pile up, so here they are with exact weekday counts. A five-weekday break here means nine days in a row without school once you add the weekends, and every family on this calendar is shopping for the same nine days.
- Fall Break: October 16–20 (3 weekdays with no school; classes resume Wednesday, October 21). Travel window Fri, Oct 16 – Tue, Oct 20, 5 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 4, 2027 (11 weekdays with no school; classes resume Tuesday, January 5). Travel window Sat, Dec 19 – Mon, Jan 4, 17 days.
- Spring Break: March 19–26 (6 weekdays with no school; classes resume Monday, March 29). Travel window Fri, Mar 19 – Sun, Mar 28, 10 days.
Benton School District Calendar: Days Off and Short Weeks
Outside the long breaks, students here have 4 single days off during the school year, and 8 weeks are shortened by at least one day off. In total that is 29 weekdays with no school between August 12 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.
4 Mondays are off outside the breaks, which turns them into long weekends.
- Labor Day: Mon, Sep 7
- Dr. Martin Luther King Day: Mon, Jan 18
- President's Day: Mon, Feb 15
- School Closed: Mon, Apr 12
| Weekday | Days off (outside long breaks) |
|---|---|
| Monday | 4 |
| Tuesday | 0 |
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Friday | 0 |
Benton School District 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)
- Sat, Apr 10 – Mon, Apr 12 (3 days)
Benton School District Calendar: Teacher Workdays With No Students
2 days during the school year are set aside for teacher training or planning with no students in class. Buildings are open for staff but not for children, so plan care for these the same way you would a holiday.
- PD/Workday (No students): Tue, Oct 20
- PD/Workday (No Students): Mon, Jan 4
Benton School District Calendar: Early Release Days
Benton School District has 4 early release or conference days on the 2026-27 calendar, all on a Thursday. Pickup moves earlier on these days, so after-school care has to start sooner.
- Secondary P/T Conferences: Thu, Sep 24, Thu, Feb 18
- Elem P/T Conferences: Thu, Oct 15, Thu, Mar 18
Benton School District Calendar: Last Day of School 2027
The end of the second semester at Benton School District is Friday, May 21, 2027. The published calendar marks this date as "Fourth Quarter Ends" rather than naming a last day, so treat it as the end of classes.
What the Benton School District calendar says about weather: "5 Snow Make-Up Days (If Necessary)". Hold the first week of summer loosely until make-up days are settled.
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: August 12 – October 9 (about 8 weeks); Grading period 2: October 12 – December 18 (about 10 weeks); Grading period 3: January 5 – March 10 (about 9 weeks); Grading period 4: March 11 – May 21 (about 10 weeks). Report cards and conference weeks usually follow each end date.
Benton School District 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.
How to read the grids: green marks the first and last day, blue squares are multi-day breaks, red squares are single days with no school, and amber squares are early release or conference days. Plain squares are regular school days; faded ones fall outside the school year.
- First Quarter Ends: Fri, Oct 9
- Second Quarter Ends: Fri, Dec 18
- Third Quarter Ends: Wed, Mar 10
- Fourth Quarter Ends: Fri, May 21
| Month | Weekdays off | Early releases |
|---|---|---|
| August | 0 | 0 |
| September | 1 | 1 |
| October | 3 | 1 |
| November | 5 | 0 |
| December | 9 | 0 |
| January | 3 | 0 |
| February | 1 | 1 |
| March | 6 | 1 |
| April | 1 | 0 |
| May | 0 | 0 |
How the Benton School District Calendar Compares in Arkansas
Benton School District opens after 6 other districts in Arkansas and on the same day as 5. The earliest start in the state is Marion School District on July 23; the latest is Conway Public Schools on August 17.
3 districts in the state finish earlier, starting with Mountain Home School District on May 18.
Winter break here is 11 weekdays, the typical length across Arkansas.
3 other districts share the same spring break week, including Cabot Public Schools, Van Buren School District, Jonesboro Public Schools. That matters if cousins or split households cross district lines.
Across the school year it gives 29 weekdays off; the typical Arkansas district here gives 28. It has 4 early release or conference days, more than the usual 2.
Where the Benton School District Calendar Dates Come From
We read the calendar Benton School District posted on bentonschools.org and copied each date as printed. 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 Benton School District year sits next to your work meetings instead of in a file you have to dig up again.
Updated · official calendar file · bentonschools.org
More Arkansas School Calendars
Comparing districts nearby? See every district side by side on the Arkansas School Calendars 2026-2027 page.
Benton School District Calendar FAQ
When does Benton School District start in 2026?
- Wednesday, August 12, 2026. Summer trips and camps need to wrap up before then.
When is the last day of school for Benton School District in 2027?
- The second semester ends Friday, May 21, 2027.
When is Benton School District spring break 2027?
- March 19–26, 6 weekdays off.
Does Benton School District get the whole week of Thanksgiving off?
- Yes: Thanksgiving break runs November 23–27, 5 weekdays.
How long is Benton School District winter break?
- December 21, 2026 – January 4, 2027: 11 weekdays off. Counting the weekends around it, that is 17 days in a row without school, Sat, Dec 19 – Mon, Jan 4.
When are Benton School District early release days?
- There are 4 early release or conference days, most often on a Thursday. Each date is in the early release section above, so after-school pickup can be arranged before the week arrives.
How many days off does Benton School District have outside the breaks?
- 4 single days spread across the year, with 8 shortened weeks. Parents on Reddit call these the hardest days to cover, so they are listed above by date.
Will snow days extend the Benton School District school year?
- The calendar marks 1 weather or make-up entry (May 24–28); the exact wording is quoted in the last-day section above.