Why Don't All Massachusetts School Districts Start On The Same Day?

CBS Boston

August 27, 2025

This week some schools in Massachusetts will welcome students back to class, but not all. For parents, a myriad of start dates in the state can feel like districts are just throwing darts at a calendar, but there is a method to the madness.

In Massachusetts, the Department of Education regulates how many school days there must be in the year, but it leaves the starting date up to the individual districts. Towns like Andover start on August 27.

"The way that the collective bargaining agreement is structured is that we cannot start any earlier than the Monday before Labor Day," said Shauna Murray, School Committee Chair for Andover Schools. "We have been pretty consistent that teachers will come back Monday or Tuesday for professional development, and traditionally we have started on Wednesday and Thursday."

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