The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Board of Education approved an academic calendar for the 2027-28 school year during their meeting on Tuesday night.

Earlier this year, staff put out surveys for students, families, employees, and community members to offer their opinions on how the school year should be scheduled for the next two years. Those surveys received nearly 6,000 responses between them, and the returns indicated several common priorities among the district’s stakeholders, including a full week for spring break, regular breaks throughout the year, a first semester that ends before winter break for the sake of exams, and a start date on a Wednesday.

The board members approved a modified calendar for 2027-28 that runs from Wednesday, August 11 through Tuesday, May 23. This calendar includes 178 student days, 16 staff reserved days, and a spring break from March 13-17. The full calendar can be viewed here (or in Spanish here).

The board also had the option to approve another modified calendar for the 2028-29 school year that would have run from August 9 through May 22. However, the members felt this was too early of a start date and chose to table the vote until edits could be made.

Also on the board’s agenda for the evening were:

-          A flute solo performed by Walkertown High School Senior Lane Vanhoy

-          Recognitions for community partners and donors, principals who earned state performance bonuses, and Board Chair Deanna Kaplan’s award from the Council of the Great City Schools

-          Discussion of this year’s school improvement plans and updates to the district’s attendance policies

-          Approval of an extension to SSC’s custodial services contract, state supplemental funds for teacher compensation, capital funding consolidation for Ashley Elementary School, access improvements for West Forsyth High School, and a contract with Prismatic Services, Inc. to audit the Central Office

The current Board of Education will hold its final meeting on Tuesday, November 10.