Seattle Public Schools students finish the 2025-26 school year on Wednesday, June 17 with a one-hour early dismissal.
Most Wednesdays this year used a 75-minute early-release schedule, designed for teacher professional development time.
Most neighborhood high school graduation ceremonies have already passed or fall in the days just before the last day as well. Ballard High School's Class of 2026 graduation is Monday, June 15, at 5:00 p.m. — two days before the final dismissal bell for returning students.
The last day arrives at the end of a punishing year for the district financially. Superintendent Ben Shuldiner, who took over in early 2026, has been blunt about the stakes: "We have a budget of about $1.35 billion. We're $100 million in the hole. We're about to go insolvent," he told KNKX in May. The district has already cut roughly $20 million combined from central office and school budgets heading into next year, with deeper cuts expected in the 2026-27 cycle. For students at Ballard High, Ingraham, and Salmon Bay K-8, that means the school they return to in September will look measurably different from the one they're leaving Wednesday.
The 2026-27 school year start dates differ by grade level — a detail that catches families off guard every year. Grades 1 through 12 return Wednesday, September 2. Preschool and kindergarten students start Tuesday, September 8, giving the youngest students a week after older siblings are already in classrooms. The staggered start is standard SPS practice, giving schools time to orient new students before full enrollment begins.
For Ballard, Queen Anne, and Magnolia families with children entering kindergarten at Salmon Bay K-8, John Hay Elementary, Catharine Blaine K-8, or any other neighborhood school this fall, the September 8 date is the one to plan around. Open enrollment for 2026-27 has closed, but families with pending placement questions can contact the SPS Enrollment and Planning office directly at (206) 252-0760.
For families managing the gap between June 17 and the September 2 return date, Seattle Parks and Recreation's summer youth programs, such as camps at Magnolia Playfield, Queen Anne Playfield, and Loyal Heights in Ballard, begin registration in spring and typically launch the week after school ends. The SPS Summer School program also runs for eligible students beginning in late June; families should check seattleschools.org for current enrollment status and site locations.
SCHOOL COMMUNITY KEY DATES AT A GLANCE:
LAST DAY OF SCHOOL: Wednesday, June 17 · One-hour early dismissal · Regular bell schedule (not Wednesday early-release)
BALLARD HIGH GRADUATION: Monday, June 15, 5:00 p.m. · Details at ballardhs.seattleschools.org
GRADES 1–12 RETURN: Wednesday, September 2, 2026
PRESCHOOL AND KINDERGARTEN: Tuesday, September 8, 2026
CONFIRM YOUR SCHOOL'S JUNE 17 DISMISSAL TIME: seattleschools.org/resources/bell-schedules