Houston ISD Calendar 2026-27: Winter Recess Dec. 21-31, Spring Recess March 8-12 and Last Day May 28

Houston Independent School District (ISD) students have no classes on Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, the next day off on the district’s Yearly Calendar 2026-2027 (footer “Updated 4/6/2026”). It is a Staff professional development (PD) day. Thanksgiving recess follows on Nov. 23-27, and winter recess runs Monday, Dec. 21 through Thursday, Dec. 31.

Houston ISD 2026-27 breaks

Break	Dates	Weekdays with no classes
Thanksgiving recess	Mon.-Fri., Nov. 23-27, 2026	5
Winter recess	Mon., Dec. 21 to Thu., Dec. 31, 2026	9
Spring recess	Mon.-Fri., March 8-12, 2027	5

The weekday counts are ours, computed from the printed dates. Winter recess is followed by New Year’s Day (Friday, Jan. 1, 2027) and a Staff PD day with no classes on Monday, Jan. 4. Counting those two days, Houston ISD has 11 weekdays in a row without classes, from Dec. 21 to Jan. 4. The calendar does not print a return day; the next grading cycle begins Tuesday, Jan. 5.

The district’s March break is not labeled spring break. The calendar calls it a recess, and Houston ISD lists Monday, March 8 through Friday, March 12, 2027. For how other districts set theirs, see our spring break 2027 roundup.

Which days have no classes?

Date	Day	Reason
Sept. 7, 2026	Monday	Labor Day
Sept. 21, 2026	Monday	Staff PD day
Oct. 9, 2026	Friday	Staff PD day
Nov. 6, 2026	Friday	Staff PD day
Nov. 23-27, 2026	Monday-Friday	Thanksgiving recess
Dec. 21-31, 2026	Monday-Thursday	Winter recess
Jan. 1, 2027	Friday	New Year’s Day
Jan. 4, 2027	Monday	Staff PD day
Jan. 18, 2027	Monday	Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Feb. 15, 2027	Monday	Staff PD day
March 8-12, 2027	Monday-Friday	Recess
March 26, 2027	Friday	Recess
April 16, 2027	Friday	Staff PD day

The first day of school is Monday, Aug. 10, 2026. Counting the weekdays above from Aug. 10 through the last student day, there are 29 weekdays without classes. That is our count from the printed calendar, not a district figure.

Is there school on Presidents’ Day?

No. The calendar prints no Presidents’ Day holiday, but Monday, Feb. 15, 2027 is a Staff PD day with no classes, so students are home either way. Our Thanksgiving break roundup and winter break roundup show how other large districts set the same weeks.

What is the March 26 recess?

Friday, March 26, 2027 is listed as a recess with no classes. The PDF does not name the reason. The date coincides with Good Friday: Easter Sunday is March 28, 2027, as covered in our spring break story.

Grading cycles and report cards

Grading cycle	Dates	Report cards
1	Aug. 10-Sept. 18	Sept. 25
2	Sept. 22-Oct. 30	Nov. 6
3	Nov. 2-Dec. 18	Jan. 8
4	Jan. 5-Feb. 19	Feb. 26
5	Feb. 22-April 15	April 23
6	April 19-May 28	June 2 (Wednesday)

When does the school year end?

The last day for students is Friday, May 28, 2027. Memorial Day is Monday, May 31, and the last day for teachers is Tuesday, June 1. Report cards for the final grading cycle are dated Wednesday, June 2.

The district can change its calendar, so check the Houston ISD district calendar before you book travel. The calendar prints no early dismissal days and no board approval note. Our free printable lists every no-class day on one page; for the whole year on paper, use the printable school-year calendar, or plan around the November 2026 and December 2026 calendars.