See Thanksgiving on parade at Destin Elementary School
The first-graders at Destin Elementary School celebrated Nov. 20 with a balloon parade, in the spirit of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
- Duval County is the only Florida school district holding classes during the week of Thanksgiving.
- The district’s calendar committee cites long-standing practice and does not consider other districts’ schedules.
- Factors like testing windows and required instructional time determine the school calendar.
- All other Florida school districts have the entire week of Nov. 24-28 off for the holiday.
Duval County students are starting Thanksgiving week doing something kids in the rest of Florida won’t even think about: going to class.
While every other school district in the state treats Nov. 24-28 as a holiday for students and teachers, Duval County Public Schools scheduled Nov. 24-25 to be normal school days while canceling classes on Nov. 26-28. Administrative offices are closed Nov. 27-28.
Duval schools are following “a long-standing practice” by keeping schools open and don’t factor other districts’ schedules into their plans, a school district spokeswoman, Laureen Ricks, said by email.
Why is Duval schools’ Thanksgiving break different?
Ricks said a school calendar committee develops the district’s yearly schedules through a collaboration involving representatives of teachers, employee unions, community members, parent groups, student groups and district leaders.
Developing the calendar, Ricks said, the committee weighs factors like testing windows, teacher planning days, required instructional time, the number of days in school quarters and semesters and state requirements about the first day of school.
Other counties’ schedules aren’t among those factors, she said.
Parents who walked uphill (both ways) to get their education know having a week off for Thanksgiving hasn’t always been routine.
As recently as 2023, Nassau County schools scheduled two class days on Thanksgiving week, just like schools in Jacksonville.
When is Thanksgiving 2025?
Thanksgiving is always the fourth Thursday in November. In 2025, the holiday falls on Thursday, Nov. 27.
Is Thanksgiving a federal holiday? How many are there in 2025?
In 2025, there are 12 instead of the usual 11 federal holidays, although two — Inauguration Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day — fell on the same day in January.
Here are the remaining 2025 federal holidays:
Is Thanksgiving a Florida holiday?
Yes, Thanksgiving, along with Friday Nov. 28, is included in the list of paid holidays in Florida for state agencies.
On Nov. 17, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis added three additional holidays for state employees, the day before Thanksgiving, the day after Christmas and the day after New Year’s.
Remaining state paid holidays in Florida this year include:
- Nov. 27: Thanksgiving Day
- Dec. 25: Christmas Day
Is Thanksgiving a Florida holiday?
Yes, Thanksgiving, along with Friday Nov. 28, is included in the list of paid holidays in Florida for state agencies.
On Nov. 17, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis added three additional holidays for state employees, the day before Thanksgiving, the day after Christmas and the day after New Year’s.
Remaining state paid holidays in Florida this year include:
- Day before Thanksgiving Wednesday, Nov. 26
- Thanksgiving Day: Thursday, Nov. 27
- Day after Thanksgiving: Friday, Nov. 28
- Christmas Day: Thursday, Dec. 25
- Day after Christmas: Friday, Dec. 26
Why aren’t school calendars same for all Florida counties?
The decision on what days schools should be closed is made by individual school districts.
What will be closed for Thanksgiving?
- Publix: Thanksgiving is one of the three holidays the supermarket chain closes.
- Walmart: Closed.
- Target: Closed
- Walgreens: Most Walgreens are closed on Thanksgiving Day, with the exception of its 24-hour locations.
- CVS: Most CVS locations will be open on Thanksgiving, but with modified or shortened hours.
