New York City Public Schools to Observe Eid al-Adha

Students celebrating Eid al-Adha in their school, highlighting the inclusivity of New York City's education system.

News Summary

New York City public schools will be closed to observe Eid al-Adha, honoring the significance of this Muslim holiday. The closure reflects the city’s commitment to inclusivity and diverse cultural practices. Following this holiday, students will have an additional day off for clerical purposes, before the school year concludes with various other breaks and observances, promoting an educational environment that celebrates student identities.

New York City public schools will close on Thursday, June 5, 2025, in observance of Eid al-Adha, a significant Muslim holiday also known as the Feast of Sacrifice. This closure comes as part of the city’s efforts to accommodate diverse religious observances within the school calendar.

Eid al-Adha is celebrated by Muslims around the world, typically lasting three to four days. It involves special prayers and rituals, which are commonly held at major mosques and Islamic centers throughout the United States and globally. In New York City, the observance highlights the importance and recognition of diverse cultural practices within the educational system.

Additionally, students will have a further day off on Friday, June 6, 2025, which is designated as a Clerical Day according to the city Department of Education’s school calendar. This means that while students attending 3-K, pre-K, elementary, middle, K-12 schools, and standalone District 75 programs will not have classes, school staff will be required to report to their campuses on that day. This clerical day is allocated for administrative duties and preparations before the end of the school year.

Looking forward, there is only one more day off scheduled before students break for the summer, which is June 19, 2025, in recognition of Juneteenth. The public school calendar accommodates a variety of religious holidays throughout the academic year, including Good Friday, Yom Kippur, and Eid al-Fitr. The calendar also includes several more standard school breaks such as winter recess, mid-winter recess, and spring recess, which respectively encompass key holidays like Christmas and Passover.

The recognition of various holidays such as Diwali, which was recently added to the public school calendar, demonstrates the city’s commitment to inclusivity. Other public holidays included are Italian Heritage Day/Indigenous Peoples’ Day (also known as Columbus Day), Election Day, Thanksgiving, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and Memorial Day, along with Juneteenth as a significant day for commemoration.

The public school calendar not only designates holidays but also provides specific dates for important events such as parent-teacher conferences for elementary, middle, and high schools, ensuring that parents remain informed and engaged in their children’s education.

The last day of classes for the current school year is scheduled for Thursday, June 26, 2025. With the various observances and built-in holidays, New York City Public Schools aim to foster an environment where all students can celebrate their identities and cultures while pursuing their education.