Are Schools Closed For Columbus Day

So, you’re staring at the calendar, it’s the second Monday of October, and you’re hit with the eternal, slightly frantic question: “Are the kids home today, or do I need to pack a lunch?” Welcome to the great Columbus Day confusion, my friend. It’s a holiday that’s less a day off and more of a national shrug, so let’s untangle this web together—with a side of dad jokes, obviously.

First, the short answer: It depends entirely on where you live and what kind of school your kid attends. The federal government observes Columbus Day (the second Monday in October), which means banks, post offices, and federal buildings usually shut down. But schools? Oh, schools are a gloriously messy patchwork quilt of decisions. Some districts treat it like a sacred day of rest; others treat it like any other Monday—books open, math problems flying.

Let’s start with public schools. Historically, many took Columbus Day off. But in recent years, a major cultural shift has happened. Many cities and states—like Los Angeles, Seattle, and Vermont—have swapped the holiday for Indigenous Peoples’ Day, celebrating Native American history and culture instead. So if your school district celebrates Indigenous Peoples’ Day, yes, schools are likely closed (or at least holding special lessons). Other districts, however, have quietly eliminated the day off entirely, feeling that Columbus’s legacy is too complicated for a parade. Your kid might be in class, learning about navigation, while your neighbor’s kid is still binge-watching cartoons in their pajamas. Fair? No. But welcome to American education.

Now, private and parochial schools? Even more of a wild card. Some Catholic schools still celebrate Columbus as a hero (he was Italian, after all), so they’ll be closed. Others are more “woke” and will keep the lights on. Your best bet? Check the school’s calendar online—or just text that one mom in the PTA who always knows everything. She’s a hero. She doesn’t need a day off.

Here’s the kicker: Many schools use Columbus Day as a teacher training or parent-teacher conference day. So the kids are home, but the teachers are in a stuffy auditorium learning about new math standards. Which means you are stuck with a bored 8-year-old asking, “Can I have more screen time?” Spoiler: The answer is yes, because you’re not made of stone.

Columbus Day Images

Joke interlude: Why did Columbus get a holiday? Because he wanted to discover a day off. (I’ll see myself out.)

The practical truth is this: If you haven’t checked your school district’s calendar by mid-September, you’re playing a dangerous game. Some districts surprise you by being open, leaving you scrambling for a sitter. Others are closed, and you’ll find out when your kid greets you with, “Can we go to the pumpkin patch?” while you’re still in your bathrobe at 7:45 a.m.

Closed for Columbus Day Printable Sign, Columbus Day Closed Sign, Store

But here’s the uplifting part, and the reason I’m smiling as I type this: No matter what your school decides, you’ve got this. If the kids are home, you have an unexpected chance to bake cookies, build a blanket fort, or—let’s be real—let them have an epic Minecraft marathon while you sip coffee and pretend you’re a backup dancer in a Beyoncé video. If the kids are in school, congratulations! You have a glorious, guilt-free chunk of quiet time. Run errands alone. Read a book that doesn’t have pictures. Revel in the small victory of a silent house.

So, are schools closed for Columbus Day? Yes, no, maybe—and that’s perfectly okay. The real gift isn’t the day off; it’s the reminder that you’re the captain of your own ship. Even if your ship has a toddler throwing a tantrum about a goldfish cracker. Sail on, brave friend. You’ve discovered the best treasure already: a sense of humor.