Tallapoosa County Alabama Schools Calendar

Two public school systems serve most of Tallapoosa County, the Tallapoosa County Schools based in Dadeville and the Alexander City Schools, and a third system, Tallassee City Schools, covers the portion of Tallassee that lies inside the county line. The county system is small and rural, with six schools spread across the Piedmont hills, so its calendar is shaped by long bus routes, Lake Martin traffic, and commuters who drive out of the county to work. Since each board adopts its own dates, the right calendar depends on which district serves your address.

School District Structure in Tallapoosa County

Tallapoosa is a county, not a parish or borough, and its seat is Dadeville. Public education is organized this way:

• Tallapoosa County Schools, governed by the Tallapoosa County Board of Education, covers most of the county outside the city systems. The central office and board room are at 679 East Columbus Street in Dadeville. Its schools are Dadeville Elementary, Dadeville High, Horseshoe Bend School, Reeltown Elementary, Reeltown High, and the Edward Bell Career Tech Center. Casey Davis, a Dadeville native, moved into the superintendent’s role after the 2024 election, so confirm the current officeholder.
• Alexander City Schools, governed by the Alexander City Board of Education, serves the city of Alexander City and sets its own calendar.
• Tallassee City Schools serves the part of the city of Tallassee that sits in Tallapoosa County, and the rest of that system lies in neighboring Elmore County.

The county board has five members, each elected from a district. Its posted schedule has the monthly meeting on the second Monday at 5:00 PM, with a work session on the first Tuesday at 5:00 PM. Anyone who wants to address the board must send a request to the board secretary by noon on the Wednesday before the meeting. Calendar adoption usually appears on spring agendas.

Comparing Calendars Across Alabama

East-central Alabama has several counties with similar names and overlapping commuter patterns, and families sometimes mix them up. If you have relatives or a possible move in the area, check the Talladega County schools calendar and the Tallapoosa County schools calendar separately. Talladega is a larger, multi-district county along I-20, while Tallapoosa is a smaller county around Lake Martin and Highway 280. Their start dates, fall breaks, and spring breaks can fall on different weeks, and even within each county the city and county systems set their own schedules. Confirm dates with the district that serves your address.

Academic Calendar Structure

Tallapoosa County Schools follows a traditional Alabama calendar, starting in early August and ending in late May. I am not listing specific dates here, because the first and last days change every year and the district’s adopted calendar is the only reliable source. Alexander City Schools and Tallassee City Schools set their own dates.

The school year is divided into two semesters, with the fall term ending around the December break and the spring term beginning in early January. Grades are typically reported in nine-week periods, for four reporting periods. High school courses commonly use semester exams.

Alabama law requires 180 instructional days and a minimum number of instructional hours. The board meets those minimums by building a calendar that also includes teacher workdays, holidays, and breaks outside the 180 student days.

Bell times are set school by school. In a county of 716 square miles with several outlying communities, bus routes can be long, which affects when elementary, middle, and high school days begin and end. Check each school’s page for current times.

School Holidays and Breaks

Expect the standard Alabama holiday pattern, with exact dates changing each year:

• Labor Day: first Monday of September, no school.
• Fall Break: many Alabama districts schedule a short break in October. Confirm in the adopted calendar.
• Thanksgiving Break: usually the full week or several days around the holiday.
• Winter Break: about two weeks over Christmas and New Year’s.
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day: observed in January, with schools closed.
• Presidents’ Day: often a day off in February.
• Spring Break: usually one week in March or early April.
• Memorial Day: the last Monday in May, typically after classes end.

Families with children in both a county and a city system, or with relatives in different systems, should compare adopted calendars, because break weeks may not match.

How to Find the Official Tallapoosa County School Calendar

Start with the website for the district that serves your address. Tallapoosa County Schools posts district information at tallapoosak12.org, with links to each school. Look for a calendar link on the district home page or on your child’s school page, and check the Parents or District sections for PDF versions. Alexander City Schools and Tallassee City Schools post their calendars on their own sites.

Boards adopt next year’s calendar at a spring meeting, and the approved version is posted afterward. Individual schools such as Dadeville High, Reeltown High, and Horseshoe Bend School keep supplemental calendars for athletics, concerts, and parent events. If you cannot find a PDF, call your school’s front office or the central office in Dadeville.

Early Release Days, Teacher Workdays, and Professional Development

Teachers report several days before students return in August for planning, training, and classroom setup. Professional development days may fall during the year, and students stay home on those days. They are marked on the adopted calendar and often sit near the end of a grading period or beside a break.

Early release days are used for planning, testing, or term wrap-up. Schools usually notify families through automated calls or texts, school websites, social media, and notes sent home. In a rural county with long bus routes, early release can require extra planning for after-school care. Alabama also sets professional learning requirements for educators through the State Department of Education, which each district fits into its calendar.

Emergency Closures and Weather Days

Tallapoosa County’s disruptions usually come from severe thunderstorms, tornado threats, flooding on low-lying roads, and occasional winter ice. Snow is uncommon, but ice on hilly rural roads can make bus travel unsafe. The superintendent of each system decides on closures and delays after reviewing road conditions and National Weather Service forecasts.

Announcements generally come through:

• Each district’s automated phone, text, and email system
• District and school websites and social media pages
• Montgomery stations such as WSFA and Columbus, Georgia, station WTVM, as well as Birmingham-area television
• Local news outlets such as the Alexander City Outlook and the Dadeville Record

Make-up policies are set by each board and may include buffer days or added days at the end of the year, within state rules. Hurricane evacuation is not a factor this far inland, though remnants of Gulf storms can bring heavy rain and wind.

Graduation and End-of-Year Schedule

Final exams for secondary students typically fall in the last week or two of May, and graduations usually occur around mid to late May. Each school announces its ceremony details in the spring, and ceremonies are often held at school stadiums or gymnasiums. Elementary and middle schools often hold promotion or awards events near the final days.

Report cards are issued at the end of each nine-week period, and families generally view grades through the district’s online student information portal. Schools can help new families get access.

Back-to-School and Registration Information

Enrollment and re-enrollment generally begin in the spring and continue into summer. New students typically register at the school they will attend or through the central office in Dadeville. Because three systems touch the county, confirm which one serves your address before registering.

Typical documents include:

• Proof of residency, such as a utility bill or lease
• A certified birth certificate
• The Alabama Certificate of Immunization
• Records from the previous school
• A parent or guardian’s photo ID

Supply lists are usually posted on school websites and social pages in July. Open houses and meet-the-teacher events are normally held in the days before school starts.

Special Programs and Their Calendar Implications

The Edward Bell Career Tech Center serves career and technical students, who may split their day between campuses and follow a schedule tied to transportation. Dual enrollment students who take college courses follow that college’s calendar for those classes, so their break dates can differ. Alabama’s First Class Pre-K programs may follow a calendar different from K-12, and virtual or alternative options may follow district dates or their own. Contact the district for current offerings.

Athletics and Extracurricular Calendar Context

High school athletics are governed by the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA), not the school boards. Football practice begins in summer before school starts, basketball and wrestling run in winter, and baseball, softball, and track fill the spring. Games and practices can overlap with breaks or exam weeks, so check your school’s athletic calendar. Lake Martin’s busy summer and holiday-weekend traffic can also affect travel to events.

State-Level Calendar Requirements and How Alabama Law Governs Tallapoosa County

The Alabama State Department of Education sets the framework all three systems follow. State law requires 180 instructional days and a minimum number of instructional hours. Local boards choose start dates, break placement, and make-up plans within those limits, which is why Tallapoosa County Schools and the city systems can differ. The department also oversees the Alabama Course of Study, assessments, accountability reporting, and educator certification.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does school start in Tallapoosa County, Alabama?
Schools typically begin in early August. The board sets the exact date each spring, and city systems set their own.

When does school get out for summer in Tallapoosa County?
The last day usually falls in late May, with graduations around the same time.

How many days are in a school year in Tallapoosa County?
Alabama requires at least 180 instructional days. Teacher workdays and holidays are separate from student days.

How do I find out if school is cancelled today in Tallapoosa County?
Check your district’s text and call alerts, its website and social media, and regional TV such as WSFA and WTVM.

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

How do I enroll my child in Tallapoosa County schools?
Contact your zoned school or the central office in Dadeville, and bring proof of residency, a birth certificate, and immunization records.

Are there any year-round schools in Tallapoosa County?
Public schools follow a traditional August-to-May calendar. Ask your district about special programs on other schedules.

Who do I contact about school calendar questions in Tallapoosa County?
Start with your child’s school office, then the central office in Dadeville. Board agendas show when calendar votes are scheduled.