The 2026-2027 school year will look different for Spartanburg County Schools, including Spartanburg School District One.

Recently, all seven districts adopted a modified year-round calendar.

Next year, school will begin on Aug. 6 and end on May 28. The calendar includes multiple longer breaks including a three-day break in October and a week-long break in February.

Traditional other breaks remain untouched.

Information about the changes to the calendar began circulating among the community before the calendars were actually released, which led to early, but brief, criticism, according to Principal Matt Davis.

”I think we got a bad rep from some people early on because they didn’t know what it actually was, but I think once it was put out there, I haven’t heard any complaints,” he said.

The calendar changes will allow staff and students to vacation during less-popular periods of the year.

”Teachers typically can only take vacations in the summer or Christmas break, and that’s where everybody takes vacations,” Davis said. “So now, according to this new schedule, they can go in February or in October.”

During a typical school year, teachers and students often find themselves longing for a break, particularly during stretches such as the time between Martin Luther King Jr. Day and spring break.

“We have those long stretches in the second semester that are kind of frustrating, so it will be nice to break that up,” English teacher Erin Smith said.

Another advantage that many see is that school will begin on a Thursday, allowing for an easier transition.

“If you start on Thursday, you have time to acclimate to school, and the acclimation process is huge,” Davis said.

Staff members believe that the modified calendar will positively impact attendance, which is in line with a major school goal.

“I’m really hopeful that (the calendar) will affect (attendance) positively,” Attendance Secretary Adrienne Miller said. “People will get breaks and will have the ability to take that time when they need it as opposed to taking it while school is going on.”

Junior Alexis Floyd said that the extended calendar will allow students the opportunity to enhance their learning.

“I think it’ll be pretty good to have the school year be stretched a little bit just because it gives more time to dwell on all of the topics you’re learning about,” she said.

Even though the calendar has benefits, it also has drawbacks.

“I do worry about the time crunch that we’ll have in between getting out of school and then starting school for our custodial staff because they work really hard to get this place spotless over the summer, and now they’ll have a shorter amount of time to do that,” Smith said.

Davis echoed that concern about the building.

“For me as a principal, we use the summer a lot to get the building ready, so it’s going to be less time for my custodians,” he said. “That concerns me a little bit.”

Sports teams, particularly basketball, may experience some headaches as they adjust to the new schedule.

“Unfortunately, it’s going to hurt us in February,” head basketball coach Jared St. Charles said. “That’s literally going to be our first week of playoffs, so I don’t love that part, but we’ll make sure our players know they’ve got to be here. They just can’t take their winter vacations.”

Despite these and other challenges, including concern about childcare for younger children, the new calendar seems to have excited students and staff alike.

“I’m really hopeful that all of those things will be positive, not just for the students but for the teachers, too,” Miller said.