Houston Independent School District
Houston
Large urban district; Texas districts set calendars within state minute requirements.
TX
2026-2027 Academic Year
Texas School Calendar 2026-2027
First day of school, holidays, spring break 2027, last day, and district-check notes for Texas families.
TX · 2026-2027 Academic Year
Texas School Calendar 2026-2027
First day of school, holidays, spring break 2027, last day, and district-check notes for Texas families.
Quick Answer for Families
When does school start and end in Texas for 2026-2027?
First Day
Aug 12, 2026
Use for back-to-school planning.
Last Day
May 27, 2027
May shift with make-up days.
Spring Break
Mar 15, 2027 – Mar 19, 2027
Confirm with your local district.
District calendars can differ. Always verify final dates with your local school district before booking travel or childcare.
Printed planning copy: Texas School Calendar 2026-2027
Last updated: 2026-03-10
Official source: https://tea.texas.gov
Before relying on this printed copy, confirm teacher workdays, early release days, and make-up day rules with your local district.
Texas School Holidays 2026-2027
Federal HolidayLabor Day
Sep 7, 2026
School BreakFall Break
Oct 12, 2026 – Oct 13, 2026
Federal HolidayVeterans Day
Nov 11, 2026
School BreakThanksgiving Break
Nov 23, 2026 – Nov 27, 2026
School BreakWinter Break
Dec 21, 2026 – Jan 4, 2027
Federal HolidayMartin Luther King Jr. Day
Jan 18, 2027
Federal HolidayPresidents Day
Feb 15, 2027
School BreakSpring Break
Mar 15, 2027 – Mar 19, 2027
No SchoolGood Friday
Mar 26, 2027
Federal HolidayMemorial Day
May 31, 2027
At-a-glance timeline
Key Dates for Texas School Year 2026-2027
Quick answers for first day, spring break 2027, last day, and required instruction time.
Aug-May
Starts Aug 12, 2026
Ends May 27, 2027
First Day
Aug 12, 2026
Spring Break
Mar 15, 2027 – Mar 19, 2027
Last Day
May 27, 2027
Instructional Days
180 days
Note: Texas requires a minimum of 75,600 minutes of instruction per year. Multiple major districts (Lake Travis, Coppell, Tyler, Aubrey ISDs) have approved August 12, 2026 as the first day of school. Individual districts set their own calendars within state guidelines.
Official source tracker
How to verify Texas school calendar dates
Statewide school calendar pages are planning references. Local districts may publish different first day, break, holiday, teacher workday, and make-up day schedules, so final dates should be verified with the district that serves your address.
High-demand state. Compare the state reference with major district calendars before planning travel or childcare.
Major Texas districts to check
Use these local sources when your city or county calendar matters.
Official ↗
Dallas Independent School District
Dallas
Major North Texas district with board-approved academic calendars.
Austin Independent School District
Austin
Central Texas district; local holidays and breaks may differ from other ISDs.
Fort Worth Independent School District
Fort Worth
Large district in the Dallas-Fort Worth area with local calendar approvals.
What to compare on district calendars
- First day of school
- Winter and spring breaks
- Teacher workdays
- Weather make-up days
State-specific planning insight
Texas calendar planning notes
Texas school calendars are usually district-driven and can vary significantly between large ISDs. Families comparing Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, and suburban districts should verify the board-approved district calendar rather than relying on a statewide pattern.
Why district dates may vary
- Many Texas districts start in August, but the exact week can differ between neighboring ISDs.
- Some districts include fall breaks, intersession days, or student holidays that are not statewide holidays.
- Bad weather, flooding, or emergency closures can affect make-up day usage and the final week of school.
Parent planning checklist
- ✓Confirm whether your district uses a traditional, intersession, or school-of-choice calendar.
- ✓Check the student holiday list separately from staff development days.
- ✓Review bad-weather make-up day notes before planning late-May travel.
Watch these calendar items
district board approvalfall break or intersession daysbad-weather make-up daysearly release schedules
About Texas School Year 2026-2027
Texas is home to the second-largest public school system in the nation, serving over 5.4 million students across more than 1,200 independent school districts. Rather than mandating a fixed number of school days, Texas law requires a minimum of 75,600 minutes of annual instruction, giving districts flexibility in structuring their calendars. The academic year typically begins in mid-to-late August and concludes by late May or early June. Texas law historically restricted districts from starting before the fourth Monday in August, though waivers are available for certain programs. A notable feature of the Texas school calendar is the inclusion of a short fall break in October, which many districts schedule around Columbus Day. Spring break in Texas generally falls in mid-March, earlier than many other states. Good Friday is widely observed as a school holiday across Texas districts. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) oversees curriculum standards and accountability, but individual districts retain authority over their specific calendar dates. Families in large urban districts such as Houston ISD, Dallas ISD, and Austin ISD should verify their district's calendar, as dates may differ from the state-level guidelines.
Last updated: 2026-03-10
Official source (Texas Education Agency)Related planning guides
Plan beyond the Texas calendar
School Holidays 2026-2027
Compare Texas school holidays with all states
Winter break: Dec 21, 2026 – Jan 4, 2027
Spring Break 2027
Find Texas spring break context
Spring break: Mar 15, 2027 – Mar 19, 2027
First Day of School 2026
Compare Texas first day of school
First day: Aug 12, 2026
Official Sources
Check Texas official source context
Source tracker and verification notes
Compare States
Compare Texas with other states
First day, last day, breaks, and instruction time
Printable Planning
Print and annotate the Texas calendar
Use the state page with your district calendar
Frequently Asked Questions
When does school start in Texas for 2026-2027?
The Texas school calendar lists Aug 12, 2026 as the planning reference for the first day of school in 2026. Local districts may approve different start dates, so confirm with your district calendar.
When is the last day of school in Texas 2026-2027?
The last day of school for Texas in the 2026-2027 school year is listed as May 27, 2027. The final date can move if a district adds weather or emergency make-up days.
When is winter break in Texas for 2026-2027?
Winter Break in Texas is listed as Dec 21, 2026 – Jan 4, 2027. District calendars can still vary around teacher workdays, early release days, and local holidays.
When is Spring Break in Texas 2027?
Spring Break in Texas is listed as Mar 15, 2027 – Mar 19, 2027. Some districts may choose a different spring break week, especially in large metro areas.
When is Thanksgiving break in Texas for 2026?
Thanksgiving Break in Texas is listed as Nov 23, 2026 – Nov 27, 2026. Many districts close for Thanksgiving Day and the following Friday, but local calendars should be verified.
How many school days are in Texas for 2026-2027?
Texas requires 180 days for the 2026-2027 school year.
Are Texas school calendar dates the same in every district?
No. Texas school calendar dates can vary by district because local boards approve their own calendars within state requirements. Use this page as a planning guide, then verify exact dates with your district.