Louisiana school holidays

Louisiana organizes schools by parish rather than district, and the three parish systems on this page all run an early year. East Baton Rouge Parish Schools starts on August 6, 2026, Jefferson Parish Schools near New Orleans on August 7 with staggered entry for younger grades, and Caddo Parish Public Schools in Shreveport on August 10.

They finish early too: Caddo on May 19, 2027, East Baton Rouge on May 21 and Jefferson Parish on May 26. Part of the reason is hurricane season. Starting in the first week of August banks instructional days before the September and October storm peak, and Jefferson Parish states plainly that portions of its breaks may be reclaimed as make-up days after storms or emergencies.

Fall break comes early and varies. Caddo Parish takes a full week, October 5 to 9, 2026. Jefferson Parish takes October 9 to 12 and East Baton Rouge just October 12 and 13.

Thanksgiving is the full week in all three parishes, November 23 to 27, 2026, in line with the rest of the Deep South.

The Christmas break runs from December 21, 2026 in East Baton Rouge and Caddo and December 23 in Jefferson Parish. Returns are staggered into the new year: Jefferson Parish on January 6, East Baton Rouge on January 6 and Caddo on January 6 after a break that runs to January 4.

Mardi Gras is the defining Louisiana holiday and the parishes treat it very differently. Jefferson Parish closes for eight days, February 5 to 12, 2027, effectively a full week for the New Orleans carnival season. East Baton Rouge closes February 8 to 10. Caddo Parish, four hours north in Shreveport, does not take a Mardi Gras break at all and instead schedules a winter break and Presidents' Day closure from February 12 to 15.

Spring break splits again. Caddo takes March 8 to 12, 2027 and then a separate Easter holiday from March 26 to 29. Jefferson Parish takes March 25 to 30. East Baton Rouge takes March 26 to April 2 around Good Friday.

The Mardi Gras split is the most important line on this page. In the week of February 5, 2027, greater New Orleans is on holiday and the city is at its absolute peak for accommodation prices, while north Louisiana is at school. Shreveport and the northern lakes are correspondingly quiet that week.

The early finish is a real advantage for beach trips. Louisiana families reach the Gulf Coast in the third week of May, ahead of Texas and well ahead of the Midwest.

The standing caveat is weather. East Baton Rouge notes its calendar is subject to change and Jefferson Parish reserves the right to convert break days into make-up days after a storm. In an active hurricane season, treat the February and March breaks as provisional and keep bookings flexible.

This page covers East Baton Rouge Parish Schools, Jefferson Parish Schools and Caddo Parish Public Schools.