Orange County Public Schools publishes the calendar that covers Lake Nona schools, and several breaks are coming up that affect child care, travel and work schedules. This guide lists the holidays and breaks that appear in the district's published facts, in date order. For more on local schools, visit the schools page.
Quick list of upcoming breaks
- Thanksgiving Break: Monday, November 23 to Friday, November 27
- Winter Break: Monday, December 21 to Friday, January 1
- Teacher Workday and Student Holiday: Monday, January 4
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday: Monday, January 18
Thanksgiving Break
The district's school calendar lists Thanksgiving Break as Monday through Friday, from Monday, November 23 to Friday, November 27. The district's calendar page also shows Thanksgiving Break beginning Monday, November 23, 2026.
In practical terms, that means a full week without classes. Families who need care for the week, or who plan to travel, can use these dates to plan ahead.
Winter Break
Winter Break runs two weeks, Monday through Friday, from Monday, December 21 to Friday, January 1. Because it covers two full school weeks, it is the longest break in this list. The district calendar shows it as a single two-week block.
Teacher Workday and Student Holiday
Monday, January 4 is listed as a Teacher Workday and Student Holiday. This is a day when students are out even though the break might otherwise seem to be over. Anyone planning the return from Winter Break should note that students have this additional day off on Monday, January 4.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday
The district lists Monday, January 18 as the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday, with schools and district offices closed. Because district offices are closed as well, anything that needs to be handled with the district should be planned for another day.
What about early-release days?
The topic of this guide includes early-release days, but the district facts used here do not list any. This guide does not name early-release dates, because doing so would mean guessing. The district's calendar page is the place to check for any shortened days.
How to plan around the breaks
- Mark the full week of Thanksgiving Break, from Monday, November 23 to Friday, November 27.
- Mark the two weeks of Winter Break, from Monday, December 21 to Friday, January 1.
- Add the student holiday on Monday, January 4, so the return to class is not a surprise.
- Add Monday, January 18 for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday, when schools and district offices are closed.
- Check the district calendar for any other dates, including early-release days.
Things to keep in mind
- The Thanksgiving week is listed as Monday through Friday, so there are no classes on any day of that week.
- Winter Break is two weeks long and ends on Friday, January 1, with a student holiday following on Monday, January 4.
- Schools and district offices are both closed for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday on Monday, January 18.
Why the calendar is worth checking
The dates above come from the district's published calendar. Calendars can be updated, so it is worth looking at the district's page again before making firm plans, especially for travel that is hard to change. Individual schools may also share their own notices, and those are best confirmed with the school directly.
Who to contact
For questions about any date in this guide, contact Orange County Public Schools. The district's school calendar and calendar page list the published dates.
Sources
Compiled from the official sources below.