Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools is alone among the state's five metro public school systems in beginning the 2025-26 school year before state law permits.

However, WS/FCS has plenty of company in the 14-county Triad and northwest North Carolina region, as well as statewide.

Ten of the Triad's and northwest North Carolina's 19 city and county school systems, or 53%, are opening before Aug. 25.

The school calendar law that has been in effect since 2004 sets the official start date as the Monday closest to Aug. 26, while the end date is no later than the Friday closest to June 11.

The school calendar law does not apply to private, religious and non-public charter schools.

The WS/FCS Board of Education approved beginning the 2025-26 school year on Aug. 13 with an end date set for May

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