Mono County California Schools Calendar

About 1,600 students attend public school across Mono County, a sprawling Eastern Sierra county with just two school districts and less than one student per square mile. One district serves the resort town of Mammoth Lakes, and the other covers the smaller communities to the north, so snow, mountain passes, and long distances shape how calendars are built.

School District Structure in Mono County

California uses the word “county” at this level. Mono County runs along Highway 395 on the east side of the Sierra Nevada, and its schools are organized into two unified districts plus a county office of education:

• Mammoth Unified School District serves Mammoth Lakes with Mammoth Elementary, Mammoth Middle, Mammoth High, and Sierra High, a continuation school. The district office phone is (760) 934-6802.
• Eastern Sierra Unified School District serves the northern and central parts of the county, including communities such as Lee Vining, with schools including Edna Beaman Elementary, Lee Vining Elementary, and Lee Vining High. It enrolls roughly 350 students. The district office phone is (760) 932-7443.

The Mono County Office of Education (MCOE) maintains offices in the north at (760) 932-7311 and in the south at (760) 934-0031, with its southern site at 451 Sierra Park Road in Mammoth Lakes. County directories list Stacey Adler as County Superintendent of Schools, an elected position, and verify the current officeholder with MCOE. The Mono County Board of Education governs county-run programs, which include the Jan Work Community and Sawtooth Ridge Community schools, state preschools, and adult education. Each district board holds regular meetings, usually monthly, with agendas posted online.

Academic Calendar Structure

Both districts use a two-semester calendar, with a fall semester ending around winter break and a spring semester starting in early January. Report cards at the smaller elementary schools may follow trimesters or quarters, while the high schools grade by semester.

Recent third-party summaries show the districts starting in mid-to-late August and finishing in June, though exact dates change each year and the two districts do not always match. Families living in one district and working or having relatives in the other should check both calendars.

School-day hours differ by school and level. In Eastern Sierra Unified’s small, widely spaced communities, bell times often reflect bus routes over mountain roads, so confirm your school’s current schedule.

School Holidays and Breaks

Expect the usual California holidays and breaks, with dates set annually:

• Labor Day in early September
• Veterans Day on November 11
• Thanksgiving break of several days
• Winter break of about two weeks over Christmas and New Year’s
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Presidents’ Day, with a mid-winter break in some years, which is common for ski-town schedules
• Spring break, usually in April
• Memorial Day in late May

California has no statewide fall break. Check your district’s adopted calendar for the exact dates.

Linking Your Calendar Searches Across Counties

Modoc and Mono are easy to confuse in a search, since both are small, rural California counties with similar names. One sits in the far northeast corner of the state and the other along the Eastern Sierra, so their calendars have little in common. If you landed here while looking for the other one, the Modoc county schools calendar page covers the northeast, while this page and the Mono county schools calendar cover the Eastern Sierra.

How to Find the Official Mono County School Calendar

Identify your district first. Mammoth Unified and Eastern Sierra Unified each post their adopted calendar on their own websites, usually under “District,” “Parents,” or “Community,” and boards generally adopt next year’s calendar in the winter or spring. A PDF version typically follows.

MCOE’s website at monocoe.org includes a county schools directory, which is useful if you are new to the area and unsure which district serves your address. Individual schools may also post their own calendars for sports and events.

Early Release Days, Teacher Workdays, and Professional Development

Teachers typically report a few days before students for workdays. During the year, districts schedule staff development days when students are out, and some use early release days for training or conferences. These appear on district calendars and are announced through newsletters and notification systems.

Because Mono County’s communities can be an hour or more apart, confirm early release times with your school so you can arrange pickup. California requires staff development time as part of district calendars, with each board deciding the schedule.

Emergency Closures and Weather Days

Mono County gets some of California’s heaviest snow, especially around Mammoth Lakes, and closure decisions reflect that. Winter storms can close or slow Highway 395 and the routes to Mammoth, and seasonal passes such as Tioga Pass on Highway 120 close in winter, which affects travel around Lee Vining. Wildfire smoke can also affect air quality in summer and fall.

Each district’s superintendent or designee decides whether to close or delay school, usually after early-morning road checks, and conditions can differ between Mammoth and the northern communities. Districts typically notify families by automated calls, texts or emails, their websites, and social media. The Mammoth Times and The Sheet cover local news, and radio stations in Mammoth Lakes and Bishop and Reno-area television stations may carry closure announcements.

California lets districts request approval from the California Department of Education to count certain emergency closure days. Makeup-day policies are set by each district, so check the district website.

Graduation and End-of-Year Schedule

High school finals usually take place in the last week or two of the spring semester. Graduation ceremonies at Mammoth High and Lee Vining High typically happen in late May or early June, with venues ranging from school gyms to outdoor sites, depending on the school and weather. Elementary and middle school promotion ceremonies are scheduled by each school.

Report cards and grades are typically available through each district’s parent portal, and your school can help with access.

Back-to-School and Registration Information

Contact your district office or your child’s school to enroll, and note that many Mono County families are seasonal or relocating, so confirming your district early helps. Registration typically opens in the spring and continues through summer. California districts generally ask for proof of the child’s age, proof of residency, and immunization records. Transitional kindergarten and kindergarten eligibility depend on the child’s age as of the state cutoff date, so confirm with your district.

Supply lists are usually posted on school pages before the school year begins, and many schools hold open houses or meet-the-teacher events around the first week.

Special Programs and Their Calendar Implications

Sierra High in Mammoth Lakes is a continuation school with its own schedule, and MCOE’s county community schools and state preschools may follow separate calendars. The county also offers adult education through MCOE. Students who take dual enrollment courses through Cerro Coso Community College, which has a presence in Mammoth Lakes, may follow the college calendar for those classes.

Ask your school about any program-specific dates, and about independent study or virtual options if your family travels or lives far from a campus.

Athletics and Extracurricular Calendar Context

High school athletics in California fall under the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), and Mono County schools compete in the CIF Southern Section. Athletic schedules are separate from the academic calendar but linked to it. Winter sports at Mammoth High often depend on snow, and travel distances across the Eastern Sierra can affect game days. Your school’s athletic office has current schedules.

State-Level Calendar Requirements and How California Law Governs Mono County

The California Department of Education sets the baseline for both Mono County districts, including a minimum number of instructional days and minutes by grade level. Districts that fall short can lose state funding, so boards build calendars to meet those minimums. Within that framework, Mammoth Unified and Eastern Sierra Unified each decide start and end dates and where breaks and staff development days fall.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does school start in Mono County, California?
Both districts typically start in mid-to-late August, but each sets its own date. Check your district’s adopted calendar.

When does school get out for summer in Mono County?
Districts usually finish in late May or June, depending on the calendar.

How many days are in a school year in Mono County?
California sets minimum instructional days and minutes, and each district’s calendar is built to meet them. Your district’s calendar shows the count.

How do I find out if school is cancelled today in Mono County?
Check your district’s website, social media, and automated notifications. Local newspapers, radio, and Reno-area television may also carry closures.

What is the spring break schedule for Mono County schools?
Spring break usually falls in April, and some districts also have a mid-winter break. It varies by district.

How do I enroll my child in Mono County schools?
Contact your district office or school, and bring proof of age, residency, and immunization records. Mammoth Unified is at (760) 934-6802 and Eastern Sierra Unified at (760) 932-7443.

Are there any year-round schools in Mono County?
Both districts generally follow traditional calendars. Ask your district whether any program differs.

Who do I contact about school calendar questions in Mono County?
Contact your district office first. MCOE’s north and south offices can help you find the right district.