FLORIDA — As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, many school districts across Florida are preparing for a multi‑day break, giving students and staff time to spend with family and travel.
What’s the Schedule?
- In Miami‑Dade County, public schools and district offices will be closed from November 24 through November 26, 2025, according to the recently approved 2025‑26 school calendar.
- Broward County Public Schools will observe a full Thanksgiving week break from Monday, November 24, to Friday, November 28, 2025.
- In Osceola County, schools are also closed on November 24–26 for student holidays, with Thursday, November 27 marked as the actual Thanksgiving holiday.
- For Florida Online School (Digital Academy of Florida), students will also be out November 24–28 for Thanksgiving, per its academic calendar.
Why the Break?
Districts say the long Thanksgiving break helps families plan travel and gives students rest before the final stretch of the semester. In Miami‑Dade, the calendar was designed in collaboration with teachers’ unions to balance instructional days with meaningful holiday time.
Impact for Families and Staff
- Travel and childcare: With five-day breaks in some districts, many families may need to arrange childcare or coordinate travel plans earlier than usual.
- Teacher planning: The break applies not just to students but to many school staff, especially in Miami‑Dade, where 10-month employees also get the same days off. Miami-Dade Schools News
- Make-up days: Some districts build in potential make-up days for weather or emergency closures, but for now, teachers and students are expected to return after the holiday as scheduled.
Looking Ahead
Once the Thanksgiving break ends, students will return in early December, with many districts shifting into winter holiday preparations. For example, Broward schools have scheduled their winter break to begin later in December, following the Thanksgiving recess.
Districts encourage families to check their local school calendar and district website as dates may differ slightly by school or due to revisions.
