Fairfax County Public Schools adhere to one of three calendars: standard, modified elementary or modified secondary. The standard calendar is the more traditional, with a start day after the Labor Day weekend. The modified calendars, more commonly referred to as year-round schools, vary their start date.
In addition, under the modified calendar, students continue to attend 180 days of school. The days are distributed so that children attend nine weeks of school followed by a three-week break. This cycle is repeated throughout the year. Students have the option of attending two-week intersessions during breaks.
Eight elementary schools follow a modified school calendar year: Annandale Terrace in Annandale, Dogwood in Reston, Franconia in Alexandria, Franconia Center in Alexandria, Glen Forest in Falls Church, Graham Road in Falls Church, Parklawn in Alexandria and Timber Lane in Falls Church.
Three middle and high schools follow a modify calendar year: Glasgow Middle in Alexandria, Falls Church High in Falls Church and Stuart High in Falls Church.
July 28, 2003 School begins for modified-calendar elementary schools
Aug. 27 Student holiday for modified-calendar elementary schools
Aug. 18 School begins for modified-calendar secondary schools
Sept. 1 Labor Day holiday
Sept. 2 School begins for standard-calendar schools
Oct. 1 First grading period ends or modified-calendar elementary schools (report cards)
Oct. 2-3 Student holidays for modified-calendar elementary schools
Oct. 6-17 Optional intersession for modified-calendar elementary schools
Oct. 13 Columbus Day holiday
Oct. 20 Second grading period begins for modified-calendar elementary schools
Oct. 31 First grading period ends for standard-calendar and modified-calendar secondary schools (report cards)
Nov. 3-4 Student holidays for standard-calendar and modified-calendar secondary schools
Nov. 4 Teacher work day/student holiday for modified-calendar elementary schools
Nov. 5 Second grading period begins for standard-calendar and modified-calendar secondary schools
Nov. 26 All students released two-hours early
Nov. 27-28 Thanksgiving holidays
Dec. 19 Second grading period ends for modified-calendar elementary schools (report cards)
Dec. 22-Jan. 2, 2004 Winter vacation (snow make up days if needed for standard-calendar and modified-calendar secondary schools)
Jan. 5-9 Optional intersession for modified-calendar elementary schools
Jan. 12 Third grading period begins for modified-calendar elementary schools
Jan. 19 Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday holiday
Jan. 23 Second grading period ends for standard-calendar and modified-calendar secondary schools (report cards)
Jan. 26-27 Student holidays for standard-calendar and modified-calendar secondary schools (snow make up days, if needed)
Jan. 27 Student holiday for modified-calendar elementary schools (snow make up day, if needed)
Jan. 28 Third grading period begins for standard-calendar and modified-calendar secondary schools
Feb. 16 Washington's birthday holiday (snow make up day, if needed for all schools)
March 19 Third grading period ends for modified-calendar elementary schools (report cards)
March 22-April 2 Optional intersession for modified-calendar elementary schools (snow make up day, if necessary)
April 1 Third grading period ends for standard-calendar and modified-calendar secondary schools (report cards)
April 2 Student holiday for standard-calendar and modified-calendar secondary schools (snow make up day, if needed)
April 5-9 Spring vacation
April 12 Fourth grading period begins for all schools
May 31 Memorial Day Holiday
June 1 Graduation for modified-calendar secondary schools on or after this date
June 4 Last day of school for modified-calendar secondary schools
June 7-9 Snow make up days for modified-calendar secondary schools, if needed
June 15 Graduations for standard-calendar schools on or after this date
June 17 Last day of school for modified-calendar elementary schools (report cards)
June 18 Last day of school for standard-calendar schools (report cards)
June 21-23 Snow make up days, if needed for standard-calendar schools