Columbia County Georgia Schools Calendar

The Columbia County School District serves roughly 28,000 to 29,000 students on the western edge of the Augusta metro area. Wikipedia’s profile lists about 28,100 students, while other education data sites put it closer to 29,000. Its calendar is distinctive for an early August start, a built-in student fall break in October, nine-week grading periods with scheduled report cards, and an eight-day spring break that stretches across two weeks.

School District Structure in Columbia County

Columbia County has one public school district, the Columbia County School District, which covers Evans, Martinez, Grovetown, Harlem, Appling, and Lewiston. There is no separate city school system, so every public school in the county reports to the same central office. The district’s address is 4781 Hereford Farm Road in Evans.

The district is governed by the Columbia County Board of Education, an elected body that sets policy, approves the budget, and adopts the annual calendar. The board hires a superintendent, who manages daily operations. Meeting schedules, agendas, and minutes are posted on the district website at ccboe.net, and families who want to comment on a calendar proposal can usually speak during public comment or contact a board member.

The district is large and suburban, and it is one of the fastest-growing in the Augusta area. It operates 17 elementary schools, 8 middle schools, and 5 high schools. That growth has led to frequent rezoning and new school openings, so a family moving to the county should confirm their attendance zone before choosing a home. Columbia County is also close to Fort Eisenhower, so many students come from military families who move in and out during the year, which makes mid-year enrollment and records transfers a regular part of school life.

Academic Calendar Structure

For 2026-27, published copies of the district calendar show August 4, 2026 as the first day of school. The fall semester ends on December 18, 2026, an early dismissal day, and the second semester begins on January 6, 2027. The last day of school for students is May 26, 2027, also an early dismissal day.

Columbia County grades in nine-week terms inside two semesters. The calendar lists the end of the first nine weeks on October 6, with report cards on October 14, and shows progress reports on September 3, November 10, February 5, and April 23, along with report cards in January, March, and May. That predictable rhythm lets parents see how their children are doing before each report card arrives.

Semester exams fall at the end of each term. Exams are scheduled for December 15-18, 2026 and May 21-26, 2027. Georgia requires 180 instructional days or the equivalent in hours, and Columbia County builds its calendar to meet that standard. Bell times vary by school and level, so check your child’s school page for exact start and dismissal times.

School Holidays and Breaks

Based on published copies of the 2026-27 calendar, the breaks include:

• Labor Day, September 7, 2026
• A student fall break on October 9, 2026, followed by the Columbus Day holiday on October 12
• Veterans Day, November 11, 2026
• Thanksgiving Break, November 23-27, 2026
• Winter Break, December 21, 2026 through January 4, 2027
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day, January 18, 2027
• Presidents’ Day, with a holiday listed for February 12-15, 2027
• A student and teacher holiday on March 15, 2027
• Spring Break, April 5-12, 2027
• Memorial Day, which falls after the last day of school

The October fall break and the long spring break are the dates most likely to affect family travel plans. Dates change each year, so use the board-adopted calendar for final planning.

How to Find the Official Columbia County School Calendar

The official source is the Columbia County School District website, ccboe.net. The Board of Education typically adopts the next year’s calendar in advance, often in the spring or earlier, and the approved version is posted as a PDF. Look under the District, Parents, or Community menus, or search the site for “calendar.” Third-party calendar sites sometimes show older or revised versions, so treat the district PDF as the final word.

Families comparing districts, or those with relatives and jobs elsewhere in the state, may find it useful to see how very different Georgia systems structure their years. The Columbia County schools calendar for a suburban district of nearly 29,000 students near Augusta looks quite different from the Colquitt County schools calendar for a rural district of about 9,000 in south Georgia. Columbia County opens on August 4 and Colquitt County on August 5, and both meet the same state minimums, but Columbia County adds a student fall break and an eight-day spring break, while Colquitt County runs a simpler set of breaks and holds graduation a week before the last day of school.

Individual schools also keep supplemental calendars for open houses, concerts, field days, and athletic events. Those pages supplement the district calendar and do not replace it.

Early Release Days, Teacher Workdays, and Professional Development

Teachers report before students return in early August, and the calendar includes several non-student days for professional learning and planning. October 9 is both a student fall break and a district professional learning day, January 5 is a professional learning day, and March 12 is a teacher workday and district professional learning day. Students are not in attendance on those days.

Early release days appear at the end of each semester, including December 18 and May 26. The district communicates these through the calendar, school newsletters, and its automated messaging system, so working families, including those commuting to Augusta or Fort Eisenhower, have time to arrange care. Georgia expects districts to provide professional learning for educators, and the board decides where those days fall.

Emergency Closures and Weather Days

Columbia County is inland, so hurricane evacuations are not part of the planning. The main disruptions are winter ice, occasional snow, severe thunderstorms, tornado warnings, and remnants of tropical systems. Hilly roads and bridges in the Evans, Martinez, and Harlem areas can ice over quickly, and the district has to weigh conditions across a county that stretches from suburban neighborhoods to rural roads near the Savannah River.

The superintendent decides whether to delay or close schools, after consulting transportation staff, county emergency officials, and forecasts. Announcements typically go out through:

• The district’s automated phone, text, and email notification system
• The district website and social media accounts
• Augusta-area television stations such as WRDW and WJBF
• Local news coverage, including the Augusta Chronicle and the Columbia County News-Times

Keep your contact information current in the student information system, since that is how alerts reach you. Lost days are generally absorbed through built-in calendar flexibility, contingency days, or the options Georgia allows districts to use to meet the 180-day standard. The board decides how to apply them.

Graduation and End-of-Year Schedule

The final exam window runs May 21-26, 2027, and the last day of school is an early dismissal day. Report cards for the final term are listed for May 28. High school graduation ceremonies for Evans, Greenbrier, Lakeside, Grovetown, and Harlem High Schools are generally held in May, and the district announces dates and venues in advance because graduating classes are large. Elementary and middle schools hold their own promotion or recognition events.

Grades are available through the district’s parent portal, and the school office can help families set up an account.

Back-to-School and Registration Information

New families register through the district’s online enrollment process, with help from the school or central office in Evans. Re-enrollment for returning students typically opens in the spring. New-student registration is available year-round, but the busiest period is July, just before the August 4 start.

Georgia and the district typically require:

• Proof of age, such as a birth certificate
• Proof of residency in Columbia County, such as a lease, mortgage statement, or utility bill
• A Georgia Certificate of Immunization (Form 3231)
• A Georgia vision, hearing, dental, and nutrition screening certificate (Form 3300) for entering students, where applicable
• Records from a prior school, including military transfer records where relevant

Supply lists are posted by individual schools, often in July, and open houses or meet-the-teacher events are held in the days before school starts. Because Columbia County zones students by address, confirm your school assignment before you register.

Special Programs and Their Calendar Implications

Most programs follow the standard district calendar. The district operates the Columbia County Alternative School, which may have different attendance rules and schedules, so families should confirm details with the school or program office. The district also offers career and technical pathways and virtual options, which may differ in bell times and transportation.

High school students taking dual enrollment courses through Augusta University, Augusta Technical College, or other regional colleges should keep two calendars in mind, because college semesters start and end on different dates than the district’s. Georgia’s lottery-funded Pre-K program is typically run by providers with their own calendars, so Pre-K families should confirm dates directly. There are no widespread year-round schools in the county.

Athletics and Extracurricular Calendar Context

High school athletics in Georgia are governed by the Georgia High School Association (GHSA), which sets season dates, eligibility rules, and playoff schedules. In a district with five high schools, Friday night football is a major community event. Football and volleyball begin around the early August opening, with playoffs into November. Basketball spans the winter break, and spring sports finish around exams in May. Practices and games sometimes continue during the fall break, winter break, and spring break, so athletes should check their school’s athletic page.

State-Level Calendar Requirements and How Georgia Law Governs Columbia County

The Georgia Department of Education sets the framework for the school year, including the 180-day or 1,080-hour minimum for instruction and the state testing windows. Within that framework, the Columbia County Board of Education chooses the start date, break placement, nine-week grading structure, and professional learning days. That local control explains why Columbia County can run a student fall break and an eight-day spring break while still meeting the same state minimums as neighboring districts. Georgia also gives districts options to address instructional time lost to emergencies, and the board applies them as needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does school start in Columbia County, Georgia?
For 2026-27, published copies show the first day of school as August 4, 2026. The board sets the exact date each year. educounty

When does school get out for summer in Columbia County?
The last day for students is May 26, 2027, an early dismissal day.

How many days are in a school year in Columbia County?
Students attend 180 instructional days, the Georgia minimum, or the equivalent in hours.

How do I find out if school is cancelled today in Columbia County?
Watch for the district’s automated call, text, or email, check the district website and social media, or follow WRDW, WJBF, the Augusta Chronicle, or the Columbia County News-Times.

What is the spring break schedule for Columbia County schools?
For 2026-27, spring break runs April 5 to April 12, 2027. Dates change each year.

How do I enroll my child in Columbia County schools?
Use the district’s online enrollment process or contact your zoned school, and bring proof of age, residency, and immunization records.

Are there any year-round schools in Columbia County?
No. The district runs a traditional August-to-May calendar.

Who do I contact about school calendar questions in Columbia County?
Start with your child’s school office, then contact the Columbia County School District central office in Evans.