School District outlines 2024 academic calendar with new breaks and professional development days

The Nashville School District held a meeting on December 16, 2024, to discuss the upcoming school calendar and important changes for the 2024-2025 academic year. The meeting highlighted key dates and adjustments aimed at optimizing the school year for both students and teachers.

One of the significant changes is that the school year will begin on August 4, 2024, which is a week later than the previous year. Teachers will return for professional development days from July 24 to August 1, ensuring they are prepared for the new school year. The calendar also includes a three-day October break from October 13 to 15, a reduction from the previous five-day break, to accommodate the later start date.

The meeting outlined additional breaks, including a Thanksgiving holiday during the last full week of November and a Christmas break starting December 22 and ending January 2. The first day of the third nine weeks will be January 6, with a teacher workday on January 5 to prepare for the new semester.

In February, the district will hold parent-teacher conferences on February 12, with a winter break scheduled for February 13 to 17. The calendar also includes two short weeks in April to address concerns about long stretches without breaks.

The meeting addressed potential snow days, stating that the district aims to avoid extending the school year into June. If snow days occur, the first makeup days will be taken from the winter break, followed by days in April. If more than five days are missed, the district may consider extending the school day to make up for lost time.

Overall, the Nashville School District's calendar adjustments reflect a commitment to balancing educational needs with family schedules, while also preparing for unforeseen disruptions. The finalized calendar will be shared with families and staff to ensure everyone is informed ahead of the new school year.