Long County Georgia Schools Calendar

Southeast Georgia’s Long County has one of the fastest-growing school districts in the region, and its schools are organized by narrow grade bands rather than the usual elementary-middle-high split. The Long County School System serves about 4,600 students and describes Long County as one of the fastest growing counties in southeast Georgia. Because every family in the county follows a single district calendar, a household with a first grader and a seventh grader still keeps one set of dates, even though the children attend different campuses.

School District Structure in Long County

Georgia organizes public education by county or city, and Long County has one unified district with no separate city system. The Long County School System is governed by the Long County Board of Education, an elected body that hires the superintendent, adopts the budget and tax rate, sets policy, and votes on the school calendar each year. The district’s website is longcountyps.com, which lists school locations, contacts, and the current superintendent. Because administrators change, confirm the name and phone number there before calling. The board typically holds a regular monthly meeting open to the public, and the schedule is posted online.

The district is organized by grade span. It includes a Pre-Kindergarten program, Long County Primary School for grades K-1, Smiley Elementary School for grades 2-3, McClelland Elementary School for grades 4-5, Long County Middle School for grades 6-8, Long County High School for grades 9-12, and an Alternative School Program for grades 6-12. The high school is located on Georgia Highway 57 in Ludowici and enrolled about 1,353 students in 2024-25. longcountypsWikipedia

Long County is located in southeast Georgia, about 50 miles southwest of Savannah, between Hinesville and Jesup. It is a rural county with a growing suburban edge. Much of the land is pine forest and farmland, Ludowici is the county seat, and many residents commute to Hinesville, Fort Stewart, Savannah, or Jesup for work. A significant share of families are connected to the military, and the county sits within the Hinesville metropolitan area. That growth has changed the district from a small rural system into a mid-sized one, with long bus routes, newer campuses, and enrollment that shifts through the year.

Academic Calendar Structure

Like most Georgia districts, Long County starts the school year in early August, usually in the first week or so, and finishes in mid-to-late May. The board votes on the next year’s calendar in the spring, and the exact first and last days are set at that time. Dates on third-party websites should be treated as unofficial until they match the district’s own calendar.

The year is divided into two semesters. The fall semester runs from August until the last day before winter break, and the spring semester starts in early January and ends in May. Report cards are issued in nine-week grading periods, giving most students four per year. The high school awards credit by semester, and final exams come at the end of each.

Georgia requires 180 days of instruction, or the hourly equivalent, and the Long County board builds its calendar around that standard. Teacher planning and training days are counted separately from student days.

Daily start and end times vary by campus. With six school buildings and a large bus fleet, the district generally staggers bell times so buses can run multiple routes, and the younger grades do not always share a schedule with the middle and high schools. Current times are posted on the district and school websites and can change from year to year.

School Holidays and Breaks

Long County follows the common Georgia pattern of long weekends and several week-long breaks. Here is what families can generally expect:

• Labor Day: A long weekend in early September.
• Fall Break: Many southeast Georgia districts include a short break in October. Check the adopted calendar to see whether it applies.
• Thanksgiving: Usually the full week of Thanksgiving or most of it.
• Winter Break: Typically about two weeks, covering Christmas and New Year’s Day.
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day: The third Monday in January.
• Presidents’ Day: Observed in some years, sometimes folded into a longer break.
• Spring Break: Usually one week in late March or early April.
• Memorial Day: Typically falls after the final day of school.

Election days can also change the schedule when school buildings serve as polling places. Exact dates for all of these shift each year, so the board-adopted calendar is the only reliable source.

How to Find the Official Long County School Calendar

The official source is the Long County School System website at longcountyps.com, where the board-adopted calendar is usually posted as a PDF under the District, Parents, or Community sections. Calendars are generally adopted at a spring board meeting for the following school year. Individual schools, including Long County High School, often post supplemental calendars for athletics, band, performances, and school events.

Families who live near a county line, or who are comparing districts before a move, often look at more than one system. You can see how an east Georgia district sets its year in our guide to the lincoln county schools calendar, and compare it with the long county schools calendar to see how start dates, fall breaks, and spring breaks differ between the Savannah River valley and southeast Georgia.

Early Release Days, Teacher Workdays, and Professional Development

Not every weekday on the calendar is a regular student day. Teachers usually report several days before students return in August for planning, training, and classroom setup. During the year, a few days are set aside for professional learning, grade reporting, or conferences, and on those days students may be out or dismissed early.

Because Long County has several campuses, early release notices typically come from both the district and the individual school. Families with children in more than one building should watch for separate messages from each. Expect notices through the district’s automated phone and text system, email, social media, and printed notes sent home. Georgia also requires certain annual staff trainings, including safety and student-welfare topics, and some of these are scheduled on non-student days.

Emergency Closures and Weather Days

Snow is rare in Long County. More common reasons for closures or delays are severe thunderstorms and tornado warnings, flooding on low-lying roads and swampy areas, occasional winter freezes, and utility or water problems. The superintendent makes the final call, usually after transportation staff check road conditions early in the morning.

Long County is inland, but it is close enough to the coast that tropical systems matter. Hurricane Matthew in 2016 and Hurricane Irma in 2017 affected the Georgia coast and nearby inland counties with high winds, heavy rain, and power outages, and districts across southeast Georgia closed schools as a result. Coastal evacuation orders are typically issued for counties closer to the water, but families in Long County can still see closures when evacuees move inland, when shelters open, or when storm damage affects roads and power.

Closure announcements typically go out through the district’s notification system, its website, and its social media pages. Savannah-area television stations such as WTOC, WSAV, and WJCL carry school closing lists during bad weather, along with local radio. When in doubt, call the school before heading out.

Georgia lets local boards decide how to handle lost instructional time. After a major storm, districts commonly convert planned holidays or professional learning days into school days, add days to the end of the year, or seek flexibility from the state. The board’s policy for the current year has the final word.

Graduation and End-of-Year Schedule

High school final exams fall at the end of each semester, with the spring window in the last week or so of the school year. Long County High School graduation is typically held in May, and with a senior class of several hundred students, it is among the biggest community events of the spring. The venue and time are announced by the school, usually well in advance.

The elementary and middle schools may hold awards or promotion ceremonies in the last days of the term. Because the elementary grades are split across three campuses, transitions between schools, such as first to second grade and third to fourth grade, may include their own events. Report cards are issued at the end of each nine-week period, and parents can check grades through the student information portal linked from the district website.

Back-to-School and Registration Information

Families new to Long County should start with the district office or the school that serves their child’s grade and address. Because enrollment often grows during the year, especially with military moves, registration is available throughout the school year. Re-enrollment for current students typically opens in late spring or summer. In Georgia, you can generally expect to need:

• Proof of residency, such as a utility bill, lease, or mortgage statement
• The child’s birth certificate
• A Georgia Certificate of Immunization (Form 3231)
• Custody or guardianship documents, if applicable
• Records or a withdrawal form from the previous school

Military families should also bring a copy of orders or housing documentation if they are asked for proof of residency. Supply lists are generally posted on school or district websites in July, and meet-the-teacher or open house events are usually held just before or during the first week of school. Watch for orientation dates at each grade-span transition.

Special Programs and Their Calendar Implications

Long County does not operate magnet schools, but it does run several programs that may follow their own schedules. The district has a Pre-Kindergarten program and an Alternative School Program serving grades 6-12. Georgia’s state-funded Pre-K, administered through Bright from the Start, can follow different start dates than the K-12 calendar, so confirm timing with the Pre-K center. Students in the alternative program may have a different daily schedule from the standard day.

High school students may be eligible for dual enrollment through Georgia’s state program, which lets them take college courses. The district has reported a school with dual enrollment programs. Those courses follow the college’s own calendar, which can differ from the district’s around breaks and exams, and colleges in the Hinesville and Savannah areas are within driving distance. Online courses, including Georgia Virtual School, can supplement what is offered on campus, and school counselors can explain eligibility.

Athletics and Extracurricular Calendar Context

High school sports are governed by the Georgia High School Association (GHSA), which sets season dates, classifications, and eligibility rules. Long County High School, whose teams are known as the Blue Tide, competes under GHSA rules. Athletic and activity schedules are separate from the academic calendar, although they overlap with it. Practices and games may continue during parts of some breaks, and playoff runs can extend into exam periods. Hurricane season can also disrupt early fall schedules, so check the school’s athletics page for current updates.

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

The Georgia Department of Education sets the framework, and local boards design the details. State law requires 180 instructional days or the hourly equivalent, and it sets minimum instructional time for each school day. Within that framework, the Long County Board of Education chooses start and end dates, holidays, breaks, and policies for makeup days. The state also schedules testing windows, including Georgia Milestones assessments, which affect the spring calendar for students and teachers.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does school start in Long County, Georgia?
Students typically return in the first week or so of August. The board sets the exact date each year, and it is posted on the district website.

When does school get out for summer in Long County?
Classes usually end in mid-to-late May. Check the adopted calendar for the exact last day.

How many days are in a school year in Long County?
Georgia requires 180 instructional days or the hourly equivalent, and the district builds its calendar to meet that standard.

How do I find out if school is cancelled today in Long County?
Watch for the district’s automated call or text alerts, its website and social media pages, and Savannah-area TV and radio stations. You can also call the school or the district office in Ludowici.

What is the spring break schedule for Long County schools?
Spring break is typically one week in late March or early April. The adopted calendar lists the exact dates.

How do I enroll my child in Long County schools?
Contact the school that serves your child’s grade and address, or the district office in Ludowici. Bring proof of residency, a birth certificate, and a Georgia Certificate of Immunization.

Are there any year-round schools in Long County?
No. The district’s schools operate on a traditional calendar.

Who do I contact about school calendar questions in Long County?
Contact the Long County School System office in Ludowici, or visit longcountyps.com for the current calendar and contact information.