SOUTH CAROLINA — Most public schools across South Carolina are expected to be closed on Monday, May 25, 2026, in observance of Memorial Day, according to statewide and district academic calendars.
Memorial Day, observed annually on the last Monday in May, is a federally recognized holiday honoring U.S. military personnel who died in service. As a result, it is widely observed by school systems throughout South Carolina, with districts consistently designating the day as a full closure for students and staff. State-level holiday schedules also confirm May 25, 2026, as the official observance of Memorial Day.
A review of South Carolina’s composite school calendar and multiple district schedules shows that Memorial Day is recognized statewide as a non-instructional day. While districts maintain flexibility in setting their individual calendars, the holiday is consistently listed as a day when schools and offices are closed.
For the month of May, Memorial Day stands out as the only broadly observed holiday that results in widespread school closures across South Carolina. Other non-instructional days—such as teacher workdays, exam schedules, or the final day of school—vary by district and are not uniformly observed statewide.
In many cases, the holiday falls at or near the end of the academic year. Some South Carolina school districts schedule their last day of classes in late May, often just before or shortly after Memorial Day, depending on local calendars and any make-up days required.
Following the Memorial Day holiday, most students across South Carolina either return briefly to complete the school year or have already concluded classes, as districts transition into summer break.
