Last updated: October 24, 2026. Dates checked against the official sources linked on this page.
Here are the key 2026 to 2027 school year dates for Los Angeles families with high school students: University of California and California State University application windows, SAT dates, AP exams and the March 2 financial aid deadline, each taken from the official source and linked. For the LAUSD first day, breaks and last day, use the district’s official calendar, linked below. Independent and parochial schools, and the other districts in Los Angeles County, set their own calendars.
Key dates at a glance
| Date | What | Source |
|---|---|---|
| August 1, 2026 | University of California application opened for fall 2027 first year applicants | UC |
| October 1 to November 30, 2026 | University of California application filing period for fall 2027 | UC |
| October 1 to November 30, 2026 | California State University (Cal State Apply) filing period for fall 2027 first year applicants | California State University announcement |
| October 3, 2026 | SAT (registration deadline September 18) | College Board |
| November 7, 2026 | SAT (registration deadline October 23) | College Board |
| December 5, 2026 | SAT (registration deadline November 20) | College Board |
| March 2, 2027 | Deadline for UC applicants to submit the FAFSA or California Dream Act Application and the GPA Verification Form | UC |
| March 6, 2027 | SAT (registration deadline February 19) | College Board |
| May 1, 2027 | SAT (registration deadline April 16) | College Board |
| May 3 to 14, 2027 | AP exams, given in schools over two weeks | College Board |
| June 5, 2027 | SAT (registration deadline May 21) | College Board |
Dates that have already passed are kept for reference. Testing agencies and universities can change dates, so always confirm on the official page before you register or submit.
The LAUSD 2026 to 2027 school calendar
The Los Angeles Unified School District posts its 2026 to 2027 instructional calendar, with the first day of school, Thanksgiving recess, winter recess, spring recess and the last day, on its official calendar page, in English and Spanish. We do not reprint those dates here because district calendars are sometimes revised after they are posted; check the official version before booking travel or summer programs.
If your student attends an independent school, a parochial school or another district such as Pasadena, Santa Monica Malibu or Las Virgenes, the calendar can differ, especially around spring break. Find your area and district on mentoring across Los Angeles County.
Planning for UC and CSU? Download and print the free A to G Four Year Planning Sheet (PDF) and the Junior and Senior Year College Application Checklist for California Students (PDF). Want help turning them into a weekly plan? Book a free 20 minute intro call.
College applications: UC and CSU
- University of California: the application opened August 1, 2026, and the fall 2027 filing period is October 1 to November 30, 2026 (UC dates and deadlines). See our UC application timeline.
- California State University: the fall 2027 Cal State Apply filing period for first year applicants is October 1 to November 30, 2026, as posted on a California State University announcement. Some campuses and programs differ; see CSU applications and impaction.
- Check where your student stands with our free UC and CSU GPA calculator and A to G requirements checker.
SAT, ACT and AP
- SAT: College Board lists 2026 to 2027 SAT weekend dates of October 3, November 7 and December 5, 2026, and March 6, May 1 and June 5, 2027 (SAT dates and deadlines).
- ACT: ACT publishes its 2026 to 2027 national test dates and deadlines on its counselor calendar and website; check there before registering.
- AP exams: May 3 to 14, 2027, in schools (AP exam calendar). See our AP exam study plan.
- Not sure which test, or whether to test at all? Read the SAT and ACT testing timeline and test optional explained.
Financial aid: FAFSA, Dream Act and Cal Grant
Seniors applying for aid for the 2027 to 2028 school year file the FAFSA or, if eligible, the California Dream Act Application. The University of California lists March 2 as the deadline for its applicants to submit the FAFSA or Dream Act Application and the GPA Verification Form, which is used for Cal Grants. Confirm Cal Grant details with the California Student Aid Commission, and see our FAFSA timeline.
What to plan around each break
- Fall and Thanksgiving: for seniors, the UC and CSU filing periods close November 30, right after Thanksgiving. Finish essays early and use the break for checking, not starting. College students home for the holiday can use our Thanksgiving break guide.
- Winter break: rest first, then a short reset: grades check, a plan for the second semester and test registration. See the winter break plan for high school students.
- Second semester: the stretch from January to spring break decides final grades. See the spring semester plan.
- Spring break and AP season: spring break is the last long block before AP exams in May; plan review sessions then.
- Summer 2027: jobs, programs and course recovery fill quickly. Start in winter with planning summer 2027.
- Senior year: use the senior year plan and the California senior year checklist, plus our high school to college calendar.
Where a mentor helps
A calendar only helps if someone turns it into weekly steps. A Blackburn mentor sits down with your student, puts these dates and their own school calendar into one plan, breaks big deadlines into small weekly tasks and checks in between sessions. Mentors do not write applications or teach test content, and never promise admissions or scores; they help with planning, routines, follow through and confidence. Students in Los Angeles can meet in person or by video. See mentoring for high school students.
Common questions
When does LAUSD start and end the 2026 to 2027 school year?
LAUSD publishes its 2026 to 2027 instructional calendar on its official calendar page, including the first and last days and the Thanksgiving, winter and spring recesses. We link to it rather than copy it, because district calendars can be revised during the year.
When is the UC application due for fall 2027?
The University of California filing period for fall 2027 first year applicants runs October 1 to November 30, 2026, according to UC’s official dates page. The application opened August 1, 2026.
When are AP exams in 2027?
College Board lists the 2027 AP exams over two weeks in May, from Monday, May 3 to Friday, May 14, 2027.
Do private schools in Los Angeles follow the LAUSD calendar?
No. Independent and parochial schools set their own calendars, and so do the other school districts in Los Angeles County. Check your own school’s calendar for breaks and exam weeks.
What is the Cal Grant deadline?
UC’s dates page lists March 2 as the deadline to submit the FAFSA or California Dream Act Application and the GPA Verification Form, the form used for Cal Grants. Confirm current Cal Grant rules with the California Student Aid Commission.
Get started
Want help turning this calendar into a plan? Call (888) 305 5422, email contact@blackburnmentoring.com or start with a short assessment. A member of our team reviews every assessment personally and sets up a free 20 minute intro call.
Free, by video, 20 minutes, with a member of our team. Weekdays 9 to 5 Pacific.