Back-to-school season is almost here, and we have rounded up everything Brooklyn families need to start the year off right: the 2026–27 school calendar, immunization deadlines, after-school guides, our annual Back to School events, and the school news worth knowing before day one.
The 2026–27 school calendar
The first day of school for all 3K–12 New York City public school students is Thursday, September 10, 2026 — a late start, since Labor Day lands late this year. The last day is Monday, June 28, 2027. The full calendar is on the city’s website here. Charter and private schools start either Tuesday, September 8 or Wednesday, September 9 depending on the school.
A few dates worth writing down now:
Yom Kippur, Monday, September 21, 2026 is the first day off of the new year, less than two weeks after the first day of school.
Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2026 is a remote learning day for students this year, not a day off.
Thanksgiving recess runs Thursday, November 26 and Friday, November 27, 2026.
Winter recess runs Thursday, December 24, 2026 through Friday, January 1, 2027.
No bonus days off from Rosh Hashanah, Diwali or Juneteenth this year — all three fall on weekends, and Lunar New Year lands inside the February midwinter recess.
Students are scheduled for 177 days of class, plus two half days for parent-teacher conferences.
Day Camps when public schools are closed
Our school break camp guide profiles local camps across Brooklyn Heights, DUMBO, Downtown Brooklyn, Fort Greene, Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Gowanus, Park Slope, Prospect Heights, Crown Heights, Bed-Stuy, Sunset Park,, Bay Ridge, Williamsburg, Greenpoint, and beyond. These camps are open when public schools are closed, offering programs for children ages 2 to 14. For each listing, we’ve included program details, age groups, hours, costs, and contact information.
Immunizations and health forms
Every student entering a New York school has to be up to date on required vaccines, and two deadlines catch families off guard every year: sixth graders who have turned 11 need a Tdap booster, and seventh graders need the meningococcal (MenACWY) vaccine. Check the state’s 2026–27 immunization requirements against your child’s records now, while pediatricians still have August appointments. The city’s immunization page explains what to submit and when.
After-school programs – our comprehensive guides
Signing up for a fall class? Our guides cover the main options in our neighborhoods, with ages, schedules and prices for each program:
10,000 new free after-school seats this fall
The city is adding 10,000 free elementary after-school seats through its COMPASS program this fall, on top of the 5,000 added last year — the largest expansion of the system in more than a decade. In May the Department of Youth and Community Development awarded contracts for 806 school-based programs and 121 community center programs across all five boroughs, covering more than 103,000 seats in total. A map of the awardees is at nyc.gov/afterschool.
Our Back to School Bash at Atlantic Terminal 8/29
Before the school year starts, Brooklyn Bridge Parents closes out Summer Saturdays with a Back to School Bash on the Atlantic Terminal Mall Plaza on Saturday, August 29, from 11am to 1pm. Free crafts, games, block building, water play and giveaways for ages 0–12, with Atlantic Terminal Mall at 139 Flatbush Avenue — bring a bathing suit and a towel, and note the rain date is the Sunday after. Free RSVP here.
Our Back to School Party in Brooklyn Heights 9/13
Join Brooklyn Bridge Parents for our annual Back to School Party during Open Streets on Montague on Sunday, September 13, 2026, from 12 to 4pm. Dozens of free activities for ages 0–12: an obstacle course, arts and crafts, games, building activities and more, on car-free blocks of Montague Street between Clinton and Hicks. Rain or shine. Free RSVP here.
More Back to School Parties & School Supplies Giveaways
Red Hook Back to School Fair | Red Hook
Friday, August 21st | 12-5pm | FREE
Saturday, August 29th | 12-4pm | RSVP here | FREE
Come to a family-friendly community celebration jam-packed with energizing activities, entertainment, and giveaways.
Back to School Giveaway | East Flatbush Library
Saturday, August 15th | 12-3pm | 9612 Church Ave | FREE | Grades K-8
Brooklyn Public Library and Achieve Purpose Inc. are handing out backpacks and supplies at the East Flatbush branch.
Back-to-School Bookbag Giveaway & Health Fair | Williamsburg
Friday, August 28th | 10am-2pm | 760 Broadway, Marcus Garvey Lot | FREE
NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull pairs its bookbag giveaway with a health and resource fair, so you can sort out a checkup question while you are there.
BRIC Family Day: Back to School | Downtown Brooklyn
Saturday, September 12th | 12-4pm | BRIC House, 647 Fulton Street | RSVP here | FREE | Aimed at little kids
BRIC sends the summer off with an afternoon of hands-on artmaking and interactive media activities, plus a storytime led by Fort Greene’s own Greenlight Bookstore. Free, but RSVP in advance.
School news
Year two of the phone ban
New York’s bell-to-bell restriction on smartphones, smartwatches and other personal internet-enabled devices stays in place for 2026–27. What is new: as of September 1, every district and charter school has to publish an annual report on how it enforced the policy last year, including non-identifying demographic data on students disciplined for non-compliance and, where the numbers show disparities, a plan to address them.
Pre-K special education expands into Brooklyn classrooms
For the first time, the city’s Nest, Horizon, AIMS, Path and ACES programs are coming to Pre-K, backed by a $67.5 million investment reaching 14 school districts this fall. Brooklyn sites include P.S. 147 Isaac Remsen in District 14; P.S. 015 Patrick Daly, P.S. 024 and P.S. 958 in District 15; the District 20 Pre-K Center; and P.S. 212 Lady Deborah Moody in District 21. The city is also hiring hundreds of staff to shorten evaluation wait times, expand bilingual assessments and help families through the IEP process. Full details are here.
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