Dates & Deadlines
The Gwinnett County Public Schools dates parents plan around: breaks, early-release days and special-school application windows. Each date links to the official GCPS or school page.
Next 14 days
What changes a family’s week right now.
- Wed, Oct 28–Thu, Oct 29
Early release for conferences (K–8)
Plan for early pickup and your parent–teacher conference.
- Sun, Nov 1–Fri, Jan 15
GSMST — 2027–28 lottery application window
Apply during the window. The GSMST admissions page may still show last year's cycle; check the school calendar.
- Tue, Nov 3
Election Day / Digital Learning Day
Check your school's digital learning plan for the day.
- School year
- 2026–27
- Last checked
- October 27, 2026
Dates can change. Confirm anything you are planning around on the official GCPS calendar or the school's own page.
Days off remaining
Breaks, conferences, professional-development days and other dates when students are off.
Nov 23, 2026 – Nov 27, 2026
Thanksgiving break
- Who it affects:
- All GCPS students
Dec 21, 2026 – Jan 4, 2027
Winter break
- Who it affects:
- All GCPS students
Choice, enrollment & operations
Registration, the application window, tours, kindergarten, placement letters, transfers, transportation, report cards and parent paperwork — each as its own row.
Sep 1, 2026 – Nov 30, 2026
SOTA at Central Gwinnett — 2027–28 applications
- Who it affects:
- Families applying to SOTA
- What to do:
- Apply before the window closes. Conservatory applicants also audition or submit a portfolio; Fellows apply without an audition.
Nov 1, 2026 – Jan 15, 2027
GSMST — 2027–28 lottery application window
- Who it affects:
- Families applying to GSMST
- What to do:
- Apply during the window. The GSMST admissions page may still show last year's cycle; check the school calendar.
Nov 12, 2026
GSMST information night
- Who it affects:
- Families considering GSMST
- What to do:
- Confirm the time and your cluster's session with the school.
Dec 1, 2026
Gwinnett Online Campus — spring 2027 registration opens
- Who it affects:
- Families interested in Gwinnett Online Campus
- What to do:
- Confirm the current closing date on the official registration page.
Fall 2026 registration is closed.
Jan 4, 2027
SOTA Conservatory auditions
- Who it affects:
- SOTA Conservatory applicants
Jan 7, 2027
GSMST make-up information night (7 p.m.)
- Who it affects:
- Families considering GSMST
- What to do:
- Confirm the schedule with the school.
Date TBA — First Friday back from Thanksgiving break
SOTA art portfolio due
- Who it affects:
- SOTA Conservatory art applicants
- What to do:
- Confirm the exact due date on the SOTA applications page.
Date TBA — Paused Sept 24, 2026
2027–28 redistricting paused
- Who it affects:
- All GCPS families
GCPS paused its 2027–28 redistricting plans. No boundary process is moving forward this fall.
Special schools and enrollment
- GSMST — 2027–28 lottery
- The application window runs November 1, 2026 – January 15, 2027, per the GSMST school calendar. The admissions page may still show last year's cycle, so check the school calendar and confirm information-night dates with the school.
- SOTA at Central Gwinnett
- The 2027–28 application window runs September 1 – November 30, 2026. Conservatory applicants audition or submit a portfolio; Fellows apply without an audition. See the SOTA applications page for the full requirements.
- Gwinnett Online Campus
- Spring 2027 registration opens December 1, 2026. Confirm the closing date on the official registration page. Fall 2026 registration is closed.
- Redistricting for 2027–28
- GCPS paused its 2027–28 redistricting plans on September 24, 2026. No boundary process is moving forward this fall.
Start where you are
Check it with the district. GCPS and individual schools can change any of these dates. When this page and the official source disagree, use the official source. GCPS main line: 678-301-6000 · Last checked October 27, 2026. Independent and not affiliated with Gwinnett County Public Schools.