EVSC Soft Start Puts Students K-Z First: What You Need to Know

For the past few years, the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation has utilized a soft start for students heading back to school. The new 2025-2026 school calendar has been approved and it includes a soft start, with a bit of a switch.

Key Dates for the 2025-2026 School Year

The academic year kicks off with teacher work days on July 31 and August 1, setting up for an earlier school start. Here’s the twist: instead of all students starting at once, there will be a two-day phased start.

August 4-5: Students with last names K-Z will attend these first days.
August 6-7: Students with last names A-J begin.
August 8: All students will then attend together, marking the official start of the school year.

This staggered start is designed to help ease students into the school environment, reduce first-day jitters, and give teachers and staff a chance to connect more personally with smaller groups of students.

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Some parents have been asking for this change-up so students with last names beginning with A-J could start school a couple of days later.

Holidays and Breaks to Look Forward To

The calendar includes all the major breaks families look forward to each year:

Fall Break: October 13-17
Thanksgiving Break: November 26-28
Winter Break: December 22-January 2
Spring Break: March 23-27

In addition to these breaks, staff development days are scheduled throughout the year. On these days, students will have asynchronous assignments to complete at home, including September 24 and March 11. There are also built-in potential makeup days on February 27, April 10, and May 1 to ensure the academic year can fulfill its required 180 days.

Photo: EVSC CALENDAR 25 26

Wrapping Up the Year

The school year is planned to conclude on May 22, with high school commencements taking place from May 20-22. The new structure of this calendar reflects an effort to meet educational standards while also prioritizing smoother transitions for students and teachers alike. Download the full-size calendar with this link from the EVSC.

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