Thanksgiving is nearly here — cue the travel chaos, grocery lists and long-awaited downtime. Across the Coachella Valley, families are gearing up for traditions like Martha’s Village & Kitchen’s 19th annual Thanksgiving 5K, community service events to help feed neighbors in need, the festive drive-thru light show at the Empire Polo Club, catching a Firebirds game or even strolling the CV Link in the cooler weather.
And for many, the first step in planning it all is knowing their students’ school schedules.
Here’s when the public K-12 schools and colleges in the Coachella Valley will close for the holidays and when they return to school in the new year:
California State University, San Bernardino – Palm Desert Campus
Students enrolled at California State University, San Bernardino’s Palm Desert Campus will have Thanksgiving break on Thursday, Nov. 28 and Friday, Nov. 28. The fall term officially wraps up Friday, Dec. 18, a week after final exams.
Winter intersession starts Friday, Dec. 19. Students returning for the spring term will begin classes Friday, Jan. 16, based on their course schedules.
Find the 2025-26 academic calendar here.
Coachella Valley Unified School District winter break dates
Students at Coachella Valley Unified School District will be on Thanksgiving recess from Monday, Nov. 24 to Friday, Nov. 28, with classes resuming Monday, Dec. 1.
CVUSD’s winter break is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 22 through Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, with school back in session Monday, Jan. 5.
Find the 2025-26 school year calendar here.
College of the Desert winter break dates
Students enrolled at College of the Desert for the fall semester will observe Thanksgiving break from Thursday, Nov. 27 to Friday, Nov. 28. The fall term ends on Friday, Dec. 19.
Those who register for the winter term will begin classes on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. Otherwise, the spring semester begins Monday, Jan. 22, depending on students’ schedules.
Find the 2025-26 academic calendar here.
Desert Sands Unified School District winter break dates
Students at Desert Sands Unified School District are off for Thanksgiving from Monday, Nov. 24 to Friday, Nov. 28. School resumes Monday, Dec. 1.
DSUSD’s winter break runs from Monday, Dec. 22 through Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, with classes restarting Monday, Jan. 5.
Find the 2025-26 school year calendar here.
Palm Springs Unified School District winter break dates
Students at Palm Springs Unified School District will be observe Thanksgiving break from Monday, Nov. 24 to Friday, Nov. 28. School resumes Monday, Dec. 1.
PSUSD’s winter break spans from Monday, Dec. 22 to Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, with students back on Monday, Jan. 12.
Find the 2025-26 school year calendar here.
Jennifer Cortez covers education in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at jennifer.cortez@desertsun.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: When are Coachella Valley schools off for Thanksgiving, winter break? Here are the dates
Reporting by Jennifer Cortez, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
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