New York City's Department of Education has confirmed that all public schools will be closed to students and staff on Thursday, October 2, in observance of Yom Kippur. This closure is part of the official 2025-2026 academic calendar, which includes numerous holidays and recess periods throughout the school year.
Key Takeaways
- All NYC public schools will be closed on Thursday, October 2, for Yom Kippur.
- The holiday begins at sunset on Wednesday, October 1, and ends the following evening.
- Students are scheduled to return to classes on Friday, October 3.
- The next school holiday is Italian Heritage Day/Indigenous Peoples’ Day on Monday, October 13.
- The academic calendar includes over 20 scheduled days off for holidays and recesses.
Details of the Yom Kippur Closure
According to the official school schedule, the one-day closure allows students, teachers, and staff members of the Jewish faith to observe the holiday. Classes will not be in session, and all school buildings will be closed.
Students will resume their normal school schedule on Friday, October 3. The closure is a long-standing practice in the district to accommodate the city's diverse religious communities.
Understanding Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur, known as the Day of Atonement, is considered the holiest day in Judaism. It is a day of reflection, repentance, and fasting. The observance marks the end of the High Holy Days, which begin with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.
Upcoming Breaks in the School Calendar
Following the Yom Kippur observance, families will not have to wait long for the next scheduled day off. The school calendar indicates that schools will be closed again less than two weeks later.
On Monday, October 13, all public schools will be closed in observance of Italian Heritage Day/Indigenous Peoples’ Day. This federal holiday provides a three-day weekend for students and staff.
Looking further into the fall semester, the calendar outlines several more days off before the start of winter recess. In total, students and staff will have six scheduled holidays before the extended break begins on December 24.
Fast Fact: A Diverse Calendar
The New York City public school academic calendar includes approximately two dozen days off for holidays and recesses between the first and last day of school, reflecting the city's multicultural and multi-faith population.
A Look at NYC's Full Academic Calendar
The New York City Department of Education's calendar is designed to reflect the diverse backgrounds of its student body. It incorporates a wide range of holidays, ensuring that major religious and cultural events are recognized.
Recognition of Religious Holidays
The school system has a policy of closing for several significant religious observances. In addition to Yom Kippur, the calendar includes days off for other major holidays, ensuring students are not required to choose between school and their faith.
- Good Friday: An important Christian observance leading into Easter weekend.
- Eid al-Fitr: A Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan.
- Diwali: A major Hindu festival of lights, which was recently added as an official school holiday.
- Rosh Hashanah: The Jewish New Year, which is also a school holiday.
Federal and State Holidays
Beyond religious observances, the calendar also includes all major federal and state holidays. These closures provide students with breaks throughout the academic year.
Standard holidays observed by the school district include:
- Italian Heritage Day/Indigenous Peoples’ Day (formerly Columbus Day)
- Election Day in November
- Thanksgiving and the following day
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- Memorial Day
- Juneteenth
Scheduled Recess Periods and Important Dates
In addition to single-day holidays, the school year is structured around several extended breaks. These recesses provide longer periods of rest for both students and educators.
The main recess periods are the winter recess in late December, a mid-winter recess in February, and a spring recess, which often coincides with Passover and Easter. These week-long breaks are a consistent feature of the academic schedule.
"The calendar gives time off every year for religious holidays... and week-long breaks for winter recess, mid-winter recess and spring recess," an official statement on the calendar structure often notes.
Parents and guardians are also encouraged to consult the official calendar for other important dates. Key events such as parent-teacher conferences for elementary, middle, and high schools are scheduled throughout the year and are posted well in advance. The full 2025-2026 academic calendar is available on the NYC Department of Education's official website.