Thanksgiving and winter break 2026: Horry, Georgetown and Brunswick school dates
Horry County Schools and Georgetown County School District are closed the whole week of Thanksgiving, Nov. 23-27, 2026, while Brunswick County Schools in North Carolina closes Wednesday through Friday, Nov. 25-27. All three districts have no classes on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3. Winter break starts Dec. 21 in Horry and Brunswick and Dec. 23 in Georgetown, and students return Jan. 4 in Horry, Jan. 6 in Brunswick and Jan. 7, 2027, in Georgetown.
The dates come from each district’s 2026-27 calendar, checked Nov. 2, 2026.
| District | Break starts | Students return |
|---|---|---|
| Horry | Mon, Dec 21 | Mon, Jan 4 |
| Brunswick (NC) | Mon, Dec 21 | Wed, Jan 6 |
| Georgetown | Wed, Dec 23 | Thu, Jan 7 |
When is Thanksgiving break 2026 on the Grand Strand?
| District | Thanksgiving break | Back in class |
|---|---|---|
| Horry County Schools | Mon, Nov 23 to Fri, Nov 27 | Mon, Nov 30 |
| Georgetown County School District | Mon, Nov 23 to Fri, Nov 27 | Mon, Nov 30 |
| Brunswick County Schools (NC) | Wed, Nov 25 to Fri, Nov 27 | Mon, Nov 30 |
Sources: Horry, Georgetown and Brunswick 2026-27 calendars.
Brunswick students have class Monday and Tuesday of Thanksgiving week, Nov. 23-24.
Is there school on Election Day and Veterans Day?
Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, is a day with no classes in all three districts. Horry and Georgetown list it as Election Day; in Brunswick it is a district professional development day with no students.
On Veterans Day, Wednesday, Nov. 11, Brunswick County Schools is closed for the holiday. Georgetown students have an early dismissal for staff development that day. Horry’s calendar does not list Nov. 11 as a day off.
When is winter break 2026-27?
| District | Before the break | Break | Students return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Horry | Classes through Fri, Dec 18 | Dec 21 to Jan 1 | Mon, Jan 4 |
| Georgetown | Half day Tue, Dec 22 (end of semester) | Dec 23 to Jan 5; Jan 6 staff day, no students | Thu, Jan 7 |
| Brunswick | Classes through Fri, Dec 18 | Dec 21 to Jan 5 | Wed, Jan 6 |
Sources: district 2026-27 calendars.
Horry’s calendar ends the break on Friday, Jan. 1, and lists no day off on Jan. 4. Georgetown’s second semester starts with the students’ return on Jan. 7.
Why is Georgetown’s calendar different?
Georgetown County uses a modified year-round calendar. The school year started Aug. 3 and ends May 28, 2027, with a week off in October, at Thanksgiving, in February and in spring, per the district’s approved calendar. Horry started Aug. 19 and ends June 8, 2027. Brunswick started Aug. 24 and ends May 28, 2027.
What if storms or bad weather close schools?
Each district has its own plan:
- Horry: the calendar marks Monday, Feb. 15, and Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2027, as possible make-up days. HCS is an approved eLearning district and can use up to 5 eLearning days for emergencies such as bad weather or power outages; those days are not on the calendar.
- Georgetown: potential weather make-up days are Feb. 18 and 19, 2027. The district is also an approved eLearning district.
- Brunswick: no make-up days are set in advance. The district can use early release days and Saturdays, and the Board of Education can add days at the end of the year.
What are the next days off after winter break?
| Date | Horry | Georgetown | Brunswick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon, Jan 18, 2027 (Martin Luther King Jr. Day) | Off | Off | Off |
| Week of Feb 15, 2027 | Feb 15-16 off (possible make-up days) | Feb 15-19 off (Feb 18-19 possible make-up days) | Feb 12 and Feb 15 off |
| Spring break 2027 | Apr 12-16 | Mar 29 to Apr 2 | Mar 29 to Apr 2 |
Sources: district 2026-27 calendars.
Where do I check for changes?
Horry posts delays and closings through its mass notification system, the HCS app, its website and HCS-TV. Georgetown explains its process on its weather decisions page, and Brunswick posts on bcswan.net and its mass messaging system. The full 2026-27 calendars are on each district’s website.
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Questions and answers
- When is Thanksgiving break 2026 for Horry County Schools?
- Monday, Nov. 23, through Friday, Nov. 27, 2026, per the HCS 2026-27 calendar. Georgetown County has the same dates; Brunswick County Schools closes Nov. 25-27.
- When do Horry County students go back after winter break?
- Monday, Jan. 4, 2027. Winter break runs Dec. 21, 2026, through Jan. 1, 2027, per the HCS calendar.
- Is there school on Election Day, Nov. 3, 2026, on the Grand Strand?
- No. Horry, Georgetown and Brunswick have no classes Nov. 3. In Brunswick it is a professional development day.
- How many eLearning days can Horry County Schools use?
- Up to 5, for emergencies such as bad weather or power outages. HCS is an eLearning district approved by the SC Department of Education, and those days are not on the calendar.