Are Public Schools Closed On Columbus Day

So, you’re staring at the calendar, and Columbus Day is creeping up like a long-lost uncle who always shows up with awkward stories. Are public schools closed on Columbus Day? The short answer is: sometimes, but it’s a glorious, confusing mess. Imagine trying to herd cats while explaining maritime law—that’s the vibe here.

It’s Not a Federal School Day (But the Banks Are Closed)

Public schools don’t have to follow federal holidays. They follow state and local districts, which is like having a bunch of mini-kingdoms with their own weird rules. So, Columbus Day is a federal holiday—post offices close, banks shut their vaults, and your mail carrier takes a nap—but schools? Eh, it’s complicated.

In some states, schools are required to close. In others, they’re open and teaching kids about faulty navigational calculations and accidental colonialism. It’s the only holiday where half the country celebrates a guy who got lost and the other half protests the “discovery” of a land that already had people living there.

The Great School Closure Lottery

Picture this: You live in New York City. Boom, schools closed. Your kid gets a long weekend to play video games. Now, picture living in Los Angeles. Sorry, schools open. Your kid goes to class while a cardboard cutout of Columbus waves from a dusty library shelf. It’s a geographic crapshoot, and you lose sleep checking your district’s website.

Here’s a surprising fact: Only about 40% of public school districts close for Columbus Day. That means the other 60% are munching on cafeteria pizza while everyone else is off watching parade floats shaped like ships. It’s like the holiday equivalent of a mutual breakup—some people just aren’t that into it anymore.

The Name Game: Indigenous Peoples’ Day Joins the Party

In a twist that would make Columbus lose his compass, many schools now celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day instead. Over 20 states and dozens of cities have officially swapped the name, and schools there close under a different flag. Your kid might not know who Columbus was, but they’ll definitely know what a land acknowledgment sounds like.

Are Schools Closed On Columbus Day In North Carolina | School Activities

Here’s the kicker: Some districts split the difference. They “recognize” the day but hold classes, which is like saying, “We see you, history, but please sit in the back.” One school in Massachusetts actually taught students about the Taino people while also serving spaghetti and meatballs. You can’t make this up.

What About Teacher Workdays? (The Sneaky Holiday)

Now, here’s where it gets truly unhinged. Some districts keep schools open for students but declare a teacher workday. That means the kids are home (without permission, basically), and teachers are in a classroom grading papers while secretly checking their phones. It’s like a half-day for adults, but with more coffee and existential dread.

So, if you call the school and they say, “We’re open for staff development,” don’t let your kid skip. They’ll come home and ask, “Why is Mr. Henderson alone in the dark with a stack of worksheets?”

The “Should You Panic?” Flowchart

Let me save you the anxiety: Check your state’s Department of Education website. If you live in states like Alaska, Hawaii, or Oregon, schools are almost always open because they’ve renamed the day or just don’t care. If you live in Florida, buckle up—some counties close, some don’t, and the answer changes with the weather.

REMINDER! The District will be CLOSED Monday, October 10th 2022- News

One bizarre fact: In 2021, a school district in Virginia held a “No School” day for Columbus Day that was actually a teacher planning day. Parents found out when they arrived at the bus stop wearing pajamas. Chaos ensued. The PTA president described it as “a choose-your-own-adventure book with missing pages.”

The Bottom Line: You’re Probably Fine

Here’s the punchline: Most schools close on Columbus Day, but not all. If your kid’s school is closed, great—you get a surprise Tuesday off. If not, well, at least you know they’re learning something, even if it’s just how to pronounce “Amerigo Vespucci” without giggling. Either way, the banks are closed, so don’t try to deposit a check.

And remember: Columbus didn’t actually discover America. He hit the Bahamas, thought it was Asia, and died believing the Caribbean was India. So if your school is open, you can tell your kid, “At least you’re not lost 500 miles from where you intended to be.” That’s a lesson in resilience—and bad navigation.

So go ahead. Check your district calendar. If it’s closed, celebrate with a cheap margarita. If it’s open, console yourself with the knowledge that next year, maybe—maybe—some bureaucrat will finally make up their mind. Until then, stay confused, stay laughing, and for the love of all that is holy, don’t ask a teacher to explain the Geneva Convention of school holidays.