ROUND ROCK, TEXAS – AUGUST 12: Families arrive for the first day of school at Herrington Elementary School in Round Rock, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025. Several Texas school districts will kick off their 2026-27 school year in late July or early August.
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Summer is more than halfway over for students in several Texas school districts, and some students will be back at their desks later this month.
While state law generally requires schools to start on or after the fourth Monday in August, some districts begin classes earlier under exceptions such as District of Innovation status or a year-round designation, according to Texas Education Code.
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Texas’ largest school district—Houston Independent School District (ISD)—will welcome students back on Aug. 10, according to the district calendar. But as summer winds down and students start their back-to-school shopping, a number of districts statewide will make an earlier return to the classroom.
West Texas
San Elizario ISD
Located in West Texas just south of El Paso, San Elizario ISD will be among the first districts in Texas to start the school year, with classes beginning July 21, according to the 2026-27 district calendar.
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The district moved to a four-day school week in 2023, with students attending classes between Tuesday and Friday—a move that saved the district nearly $300,000 annually, according to CBS 4.
Socorro ISD, Clint ISD, Tornillo ISD
Socorro ISD, Clint ISD and Tornillo ISD—all also located in West Texas in El Paso County—will begin the school year on July 27, according to their district calendars.
Socorro ISD, which serves roughly 46,000 students, and Clint ISD, which serves about 10,100 students, both operate under a year-round calendar.
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Tornillo ISD serves roughly 750 students, is a District of Innovation, according to its website.
Anthony ISD
Yet another district in far West Texas, Anthony ISD is located just north of El Paso. The district, serving about 750 students, will kick off classes on July 28, according to the district calendar.
Canutillo ISD, El Paso ISD, Ysleta ISD
All located in El Paso County, including El Paso ISD, the county’s largest school district, these three districts are set to start the school year on Aug. 3, according to their respective district calendars.
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Fabens ISD
First day of classes for Fabens ISD—located in the El Paso Lower Valley—will be Aug. 4, according to the district calendar.
HOUSTON, TEXAS – APRIL 11: Students line up in a hallway at Highland Heights Elementary on Tuesday, April 11, 2023 in Houston. Houston ISD will start its school year on Aug. 10, 2026.
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Southeast Texas
Crosby ISD
In northeast Harris County, students of Crosby ISD will be back in the classroom starting Aug. 5, according to the district calendar. Crosby ISD serves roughly 7,000 students and implements a four-day instructional week.
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New Caney ISD
Also in the Greater Houston area, New Caney ISD in Montgomery County will send students back to class on Aug. 6, according to the district calendar. The district serves about 19,600 students across 21 campuses.
North Texas
Dallas ISD
While most Dallas ISD campuses will make a return to classrooms on Aug. 11, Additional Days School Year (ADSY) campuses will return on July 28. The following campuses will kick off classes with a late-July start:
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John Q Adams Elementary
Lee McShan Jr. Elementary
Lida Hooe Elementary
John Neely Bryan Elementary
J.N. Ervin Elementary
José “Joe” May Elementary
Julian T. Saldivar Elementary
Harrell Budd Elementary
Birdie Alexander Elementary
Frank Guzick Elementary
Ronald Erwin McNair Elementary
H.S. Thompson STEAM Academy
Marcus Leadership Academy
FORT BEND, TEXAS – AUGUST 9: Principal, Framy Diaz greets students on the first day of class at Fort Bend ISD Ridgemont Elementary Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023. Several Texas school districts will start their 2026-27 school year in late July or early August.
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Central Texas
China Spring ISD
Located in McLennan County, China Spring ISD will start classes on Aug. 3, according to the district calendar. The district serves about 3,000 students with a four-day instructional week.
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Walnut Springs ISD
A very small school district of about 165 students in Bosque County, Walnut Springs ISD will start its school year on Aug. 4.