Sedgwick County Colorado Schools Calendar

Two school districts, Julesburg School District RE-1 and Revere School District, serve the roughly 500 public school students of this small agricultural county in Colorado’s northeast corner. Each has its own elected board and its own calendar, so a family in Julesburg and a family in the Ovid and Sedgwick area can see different start dates, break weeks, and weather decisions. Knowing which district serves your address is the first step to finding the right schedule.
School District Structure in Sedgwick County
Colorado does not run schools through county governments. Locally elected boards of education govern each district, and Sedgwick County is a clear example of how that works on the high plains. It is the state’s smallest county by population in this region, with only a couple of thousand residents. The county sits where the South Platte River crosses into Nebraska, and its economy rests on irrigated farming, ranching, and the traffic along Interstate 76 and U.S. 138. Julesburg is the county seat, and Ovid and Sedgwick are the other main communities.
Julesburg School District RE-1 serves the town of Julesburg and the surrounding farm country in the eastern part of the county. Its governing body is the Julesburg School District RE-1 Board of Education, which meets on a published public schedule with agendas and minutes posted by the district. The superintendent’s office manages daily operations and recommends the calendar to the board.
Revere School District serves the western part of the county, including the communities of Ovid and Sedgwick. It is governed by the Revere School District Board of Education and also runs on a published meeting schedule. Because the district draws students from small towns and open farmland, bus routes cover long stretches of county road.
Both districts are rural and small, which means one or two schools per district and close contact between families and the school office. Do not assume one district’s schedule applies to the other, and confirm your boundary if your home sits near the line between them.
Academic Calendar Structure
Both districts generally follow the standard Colorado pattern of a start in mid-to-late August and a finish in late May, though first and last days vary by district and year. Boards typically approve the following year’s calendar in the spring, and sometimes earlier. If you cannot find a date for next year, the board probably has not voted yet or the approved version has not been posted.
The year is divided into two semesters, with the first ending around winter break in December and the second running from January through May. Grades are usually reported by quarter within those semesters, and the details for your child’s school appear in the student handbook. Bell times for elementary, middle, and high school levels are set by each building and shaped by bus routing, so contact the school for current hours.
Small rural districts across northeast Colorado sometimes adopt four-day school weeks to cut transportation costs. Whether Julesburg or Revere runs a four-day or five-day week can change from year to year, so check the adopted calendar before you arrange childcare or work schedules.
School Holidays and Breaks
Both districts observe the usual holidays, though dates shift every year:
- Labor Day in early September
- Fall break or an October long weekend, which some districts include and others do not
- Thanksgiving break, usually the Wednesday through Friday of Thanksgiving week, or the full week
- Winter break, typically about two weeks spanning Christmas and New Year’s Day
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day in January
- Presidents’ Day in February
- Spring break, normally one week in March
- Memorial Day in late May
Colorado also observes Cesar Chavez Day on March 31, and some districts reflect it on their calendars. In a farming county, planting and harvest seasons shape how families think about the year, and local events such as the county fair and school sports travel often matter as much as the formal holidays. Exact dates change annually, and the two districts can differ, so confirm against the board-approved version.
How to Find the Official Sedgwick County School Calendar
The authoritative source is whichever district serves your address. Julesburg RE-1 and Revere each post their calendars on their own district websites. Boards approve calendars at regular meetings, and agendas and minutes are public, so you can see when the vote occurs.
Once approved, the calendar is usually posted as a PDF under sections labeled “District,” “Parents,” “Families,” or “Community.” Individual schools often add supplemental calendars for concerts, parent nights, athletics, and testing windows. In communities this small, school newsletters and social media pages are often the quickest way to catch a change.
Families comparing calendars across Colorado will notice how much the picture changes between the mountains and the plains. The San Miguel County schools calendar has to be read through two districts in the San Juan Mountains, Telluride R-1 and Norwood R-2J, where a resort economy, avalanche-prone highways, and mountain passes shape the school year. By contrast, the Sedgwick County schools calendar is built around two small districts on the northeastern plains, Julesburg RE-1 and Revere, where open farmland, wind-driven winter storms, and long county-road bus routes matter most. Reading the two side by side shows how geography and local economy drive differences in break weeks and weather closures, and families moving between regions should confirm the new district’s dates rather than assuming the old pattern carries over.
Early Release Days, Teacher Workdays, and Professional Development
Teachers in both districts report several days before students return in August for planning and training. Those workdays are separate from the first day of school and appear on the calendar.
During the year, each district schedules professional development days when students are not in attendance, plus occasional early release days so staff can meet. In small districts, staff often cover several roles, so training days carry extra weight. Parent-teacher conferences may also fall on partial or full days off. Colorado’s emphasis on teacher training in areas such as early literacy has made these days a regular feature of rural calendars.
Families are usually notified through the district’s mass notification system, newsletters, and social media. Make sure the school office has your current phone number and email. Early release days affect bus schedules, which matters on long rural routes.
Emergency Closures and Weather Days
Sedgwick County has flat, open terrain, so winter storms here often mean wind, blowing and drifting snow, and sharply reduced visibility rather than deep accumulation. Closures and delays are most often caused by blizzard conditions, ice, extreme cold, and hazardous travel on I-76, U.S. 138, and the gravel and farm roads buses use. Interstate closures can disrupt travel even when town streets are clear.
The decision to close or delay belongs to each district’s superintendent or designee, who weighs road conditions, bus safety, and wind chill. Because the two districts cover different parts of the county, one may delay or close while the other stays open.
Families usually learn of closures through the district’s automated phone, text, and email system, the district website and social media pages, and local news. The Julesburg Advocate covers the community, and regional radio and television serving northeast Colorado and the Nebraska panhandle also report closures. Colorado does not impose a single statewide snow-day rule, so each district handles lost time through built-in flexibility, schedule adjustments, or added days, and explains its approach in the calendar notes.
Graduation and End-of-Year Schedule
High school final exams typically fall in the last week or two of May. Graduation ceremonies for Julesburg High School and Revere’s secondary school generally take place in May, usually in a school gymnasium or other local venue, and with classes this small the whole community often attends. Elementary and middle schools hold promotion or recognition events in the final days of the term.
Report cards are issued at the end of each grading period, and families can usually view grades through the district’s online parent portal. If you have not set up access, contact your child’s school office.
Back-to-School and Registration Information
Enrollment and re-enrollment typically open in the spring or early summer, with registration available through district offices and individual schools. Colorado also allows open enrollment, meaning families can apply to a school outside their neighborhood boundary, and each district sets its own window and process. In a county where two districts sit close together and some families live near the Nebraska line, that can matter.
New students typically need:
- Proof of residency, such as a utility bill or lease
- A birth certificate or other proof of age
- Immunization records or a valid exemption
- Prior school records, if transferring
Supply lists are usually posted on school websites in July. Open houses and meet-the-teacher events typically happen shortly before the first day and appear on school calendars. In a district this size, a call to the school office is often the fastest way to learn which bus route or boundary applies to your address.
Special Programs and Their Calendar Implications
High school students in Sedgwick County may take concurrent enrollment courses through Northeastern Junior College in Sterling or other partner colleges, and those courses follow the college calendar for deadlines and exams, which does not always match the high school’s. Because campuses are a drive away, ask whether coursework is delivered online or in person.
Pre-K and early childhood programs, including those funded through Colorado’s universal preschool program, may follow separate hours and calendars from the K-12 schedule. Career and technical education pathways may be offered with regional partners and may follow different scheduling. Alternative and credit-recovery options may run flexibly, and online learning may pace differently from in-person classes. With only two small districts, magnet schools are not part of the local picture, so ask your school counselor how a specific program fits the regular school year.
Athletics and Extracurricular Calendar Context
High school athletics here are governed by the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA). CHSAA sets season dates, practice windows, and postseason schedules, while the districts decide how games fit around breaks and exams. Small-school teams in northeast Colorado often travel long distances across the plains, which can affect early dismissals on game days and, in winter storms, whether a trip happens. Fall sports begin practice in August around the time school starts, and winter and spring seasons may include games around holiday and spring breaks.
State-Level Calendar Requirements and How Colorado Law Governs Sedgwick County
Colorado law sets minimum instructional time rather than a single rigid calendar. Districts must provide a minimum number of instructional hours each year, with different totals by grade level, and the state also references a 160-day standard. Within those limits, local boards have wide freedom over start dates, breaks, and daily schedules, and a district can meet the hours requirement over fewer, longer days if it chooses. The Colorado Department of Education oversees compliance and provides guidance, and districts report their instructional time to the state.
This local control explains why Julesburg RE-1 and Revere can have different calendars despite sharing a county.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does school start in Sedgwick County, Colorado?
Most schools start in mid-to-late August. The exact date depends on whether you live in Julesburg RE-1 or Revere, so check that district’s adopted calendar.
When does school get out for summer in Sedgwick County?
The school year usually ends in late May, with graduation around that time. The last day varies by district and year.
How many days are in a school year in Sedgwick County?
Colorado sets minimum instructional hours and references a 160-day standard. Each district’s calendar shows how it meets that requirement, including whether it uses a four-day week.
How do I find out if school is cancelled today in Sedgwick County?
Check your district’s text or email alerts, its website and social media pages, or local news. The two districts decide independently, so confirm the one that applies to your child.
What is the spring break schedule for Sedgwick County schools?
Spring break is usually one week in March. Each board sets the exact week, so check the current calendar.
How do I enroll my child in Sedgwick County schools?
Register through the district that serves your address, either at the district office or your child’s school. Bring proof of residency, a birth certificate, and immunization records.
Are there any year-round schools in Sedgwick County?
Most schools follow a traditional August-to-May calendar. Ask the district directly about any alternative or specialty options.
Who do I contact about school calendar questions in Sedgwick County?
Contact the central office of Julesburg RE-1 or Revere School District, depending on where you live, or call your child’s school office.
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