Gilmer County students head back to class Monday, Aug. 3, 2026, the district's confirmed first day of the 2026-2027 school year — which puts nearly every Ellijay family with school-age kids on the clock to finish supply shopping, registration, and School Choice paperwork before the bell rings.
The countdown affects roughly 4,017 students across the district's campuses: Ellijay Elementary, Mountain View Elementary, Clear Creek Elementary, Clear Creek Middle, Gilmer High, and the county Pre-K. Teachers are back well before then, with New Teacher Orientation on July 23 and Pre-Planning running July 24-31.
The district has posted its full calendar, grade-by-grade supply lists, an updated Student-Parent Handbook and Code of Conduct, and registration details online. Here's what to know.
Mark these dates
The 2026-2027 calendar gives families their first real chance to plan trips, childcare, and work schedules around the school year. The big breaks:
| What | When |
|---|---|
| First day of school | Aug. 3, 2026 |
| Fall Break | Sept. 8-11, 2026 |
| Thanksgiving Break | Nov. 23-27, 2026 |
| Christmas Break | Dec. 21-31, 2026 |
| Semester 2 begins | Jan. 6, 2027 |
| Spring Break | April 5-9, 2027 |
| Last day (early release) | May 26, 2027 |
A few scheduling notes worth flagging now: Fall Break lands the week right after Labor Day (Sept. 7), and students return from Christmas Break on Jan. 6 after two teacher planning days. There's also a Winter Break scheduled for Feb. 22-26, 2027.
Sponsored
Early-release days are spread through the year — Oct. 22-23, Dec. 17-18, March 25-26, and the final two days of May — so families with younger children will want those on the fridge calendar for pickup planning. Gilmer High graduation is set for May 27, 2027.
The family to-do list
With less than a month to go, most of the prep work is straightforward but time-sensitive.
Supply lists
The district posted its 2026-2027 School Supply Lists in mid-June, broken out by grade level. Parents should pull up their child's specific list rather than guessing, since requested items vary from classroom to classroom.
Kindergarten registration
Registration for incoming kindergartners has been open since the spring. Families with a child starting kindergarten this fall should complete it soon if they haven't already, so their student is on a class roster before Day 1.
Sponsored
School Choice
School Choice for 2026-2027 is currently open. Families interested in requesting a different school can view current vacancies and complete the required survey through the district's School Choice page. Because choice depends on available seats, it's worth acting early rather than waiting.
Set up or check your Infinite Campus Parent Portal login and download the ParentSquare app now — that's how the district sends schedules, bus routes, closures, and teacher messages once school starts. Getting logged in before the rush means you won't miss the first-week updates.
Handbook and Code of Conduct
The district has also refreshed its Student-Parent Handbook and Code of Conduct for the new year. It's an easy step to skip, but reviewing it — especially the attendance, phone, and discipline sections — before school starts saves confusion later, and many campuses ask families to acknowledge the policies early in the year.
Open House
An Open House notice was posted July 7, 2026. These evenings are the best chance for kids to meet teachers, find their classrooms, and drop off supplies before the first full day. Check your specific school's posts and the ParentSquare app for its date and time, since they can differ by campus.
Sponsored
For the complete calendar, grade-level supply lists, and the School Choice survey, visit the district's official site at gilmerschools.com.
For more local coverage as the year gets underway, visit Ellijay Georgia Community Website and read more education stories and community news. Have a back-to-school tip, carpool question, or Open House detail to share? Join the conversation in our Community Forum, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X so you never miss an update.
Comments
Sign inas a community member to join the conversation. It's free!