Skip Breadcrumb Links
When are the school holidays?
In Ontario, there are four publicly-funded school systems and private schools. Generally, there is a short break in December and March; both July and August are off for summer vacation.
The number of days children must attend school each year is regulated. The minimum number of school days for Ontario schools is 194.
School Holidays
In addition to the short breaks in December and March, there are single days off throughout the school year that every school will have off. These days are:
- Labour Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Family Day
- Good Friday
- Easter Monday
- Victoria Day
You can visit the Ministry of Education’s school calendar page to find the exact dates for the current school year. Families can also contact their school or school board directly for information.
If your child needs time off from school for religious or creed-based observances and celebration dates, you may need to submit a list of these days at the beginning of each school year if your school does not already have a multi-faith calendar. This kind of request is protected under the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Education Act.
Professional Activity (PA) Days
In Ontario, each school board must provide a certain number of learning opportunities for their staff. These Professional Activity (PA) days are learning days focused on providing teachers and support staff with Professional Development (PD) in a number of areas, including curriculum, school safety and accessibility.
Sometimes half a day is given to learning, while the other part of the day is for meeting with parents and caregivers.
On these days, students remain at home, and schools are open only for staff to attend the scheduled training or other activities and meetings. These days are set by each school board and sometimes by Elementary and High School levels. Though some boards in the same city will coordinate their days, it is common that different regions have different PA day schedules.
Summer Break
Schools in Ontario will close for summer vacation at the end of June. Students and teachers are expected to return in late August or after Labor Day in September.
For High School students, there may be options to take additional courses or retake a course they wish to get a better grade in. This type of program will vary by school board.
Many community agencies can help you find information about schools for your children. To find help, go to Services Near Me and search for "settlement services" in your area.
For More Information
Last updated:
November 17, 2023
4001215