Pasco County Schools opens the 2026-2027 year on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026, with roughly 78,000 students returning to classrooms in Land O' Lakes, Wesley Chapel, New Port Richey, Dade City and beyond. With the first bell now about a month away, families have a short window to knock out physicals, immunizations and supply lists — and to start planning around the year's days off.
The School Board locked in the calendar when it approved the 2026-2027 student/teacher schedule on Nov. 4, 2025. The year runs through Friday, May 28, 2027.
One quirk worth knowing: Pasco starts a couple of days later than most of its neighbors, which tend to open around Aug. 10 or 11. If you have kids in more than one district or coordinate carpools across county lines, that gap matters.
Free physicals before the first day
A school-entry physical is required for any student making their initial entry into a Florida school, and it must have been completed within the past 12 months. Sports physicals are a separate must for student-athletes.
To help families avoid the cost, the Florida Department of Health in Pasco and the district's School Health Team are offering free physicals on a rotating monthly basis at several campuses, according to the district. Locations include:
- Pasco High School — Dade City
- Fivay High School — Hudson
- Anclote High School — Holiday (taking over the site formerly hosted at Gulfside Elementary)
- District Site — Land O' Lakes
Because the events rotate month to month, dates and the host campus change — so call ahead rather than showing up. For a school-entry physical appointment, the district lists the school health secretary line at 813-794-2360.
Bring your child's immunization record in English so the nurse can help complete the required Florida Certification of Immunization (Form DH 680). Students without a valid certification on file may not be permitted to attend, as required by state law. Seventh graders also need a Tdap booster on top of their earlier shots.
Families needing a broader set of services can also use the Hudson Community Health and Resource Center, which offers physicals, immunizations, dental and mental health care by appointment, the district said.
Supply help is already moving
Local school-supply drives and giveaways are already underway across the county, with community trackers flagging both supply events and low- or no-cost physical clinics in mid-July. If money is tight, it's worth watching for these giveaways now rather than waiting until the week before school.
Keep in mind that district elementary supply lists are typically framed as suggestions rather than hard requirements — check with your child's specific school before overbuying.
Every day off, at a glance
Here are the dates to circle for travel windows, childcare coverage and work-schedule planning.
| Break / Holiday | Dates (No School) |
|---|---|
| First Day | Thu, Aug. 13, 2026 |
| Labor Day | Mon, Sept. 7, 2026 |
| Thanksgiving | Nov. 23-27, 2026 |
| Winter Break | Dec. 21, 2026 - Jan. 4, 2027 |
| MLK Jr. Day | Mon, Jan. 18, 2027 |
| Presidents' Day | Mon, Feb. 15, 2027 |
| Spring Break | March 22-26, 2027 |
| Last Day | Fri, May 28, 2027 |
A few extra dates that catch parents off guard: there's a student holiday on Oct. 12, 2026, and early-release days on Oct. 28, Jan. 27 and Feb. 24. Bus-route details are typically posted by the district by mid-August.
Note: A handful of days on the calendar are built in as hurricane makeup days. If they aren't needed for storm closures, some convert to no-school days — so watch the district's official updates during the fall.
New to the district?
Returning students generally don't need to re-enroll, and kids moving up a level are automatically assigned to their boundary school. New families should complete enrollment online and be ready to upload immunization and physical records. Every family will also need to fill out an emergency card each year through the myStudent parent portal.
You can confirm the latest first-day details, supply guidance and enrollment steps on the district's official site at pasco.k12.fl.us.
Stay connected
We'll keep tracking supply-drive locations, physical clinic dates and any weather-related schedule changes as the countdown to Aug. 13 continues. Bookmark Pasco County Community Website and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X so back-to-school updates land in your feed.
Got a supply drive or free-physical event neighbors should know about? Join the conversation in our Community Forum, and read more education stories and community news from across Pasco County.
Header photo: Philipp Michel Reichold / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
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