- School starts Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026 and ends Friday, May 28, 2027, an early release day.
- Thanksgiving break: Nov. 23 to 27. Students are out Saturday, Nov. 21 to Sunday, Nov. 29, back Monday, Nov. 30.
- Winter break: Dec. 21 to Jan. 1. Students are out Saturday, Dec. 19 to Tuesday, Jan. 5, back Wednesday, Jan. 6.
- Spring break: March 15 to 19. Students are out Saturday, March 13 to Sunday, March 21, back Monday, March 22.
- Two early release days for every school, plus two for some schools. Details below.
The HPISD 2026-27 calendar
This is the district's own calendar, as HPISD publishes it. Tap it to open the full-size image.
Add the HPISD calendar to your phone
Pick a file. Each one is an all-day event per day off or half day, and a break is one event across all its days.
On an iPhone
Tap a file above, then tap Add All. The dates go into the calendar you choose.
In Google Calendar
On a computer, open Google Calendar, then Settings, then Import & export. Choose the file and the calendar to add it to. The dates show up on your Android phone too.
In Outlook
Open the downloaded file, or in Outlook on the web go to Add calendar, then Upload from file.
These files are a copy of the calendar today. If the district changes a date, download the file again.
HPISD vacations and holidays, 2026-27
Every day with no school for students, from the first day to the last: 13 entries and 31 weekdays in all.
| Day off | Dates | Days of the week | School days off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor Day Holiday | Sept. 7 | Mon | 1 |
| Professional exchange day Staff day | Oct. 12 | Mon | 1 |
| Staff professional development Staff day | Nov. 2 | Mon | 1 |
| Conference day, no school for students Other | Nov. 3 | Tue | 1 |
| Thanksgiving break Break | Nov. 23 to 27 | Mon to Fri | 5 |
| Winter break Break | Dec. 21 to Jan. 1 | Mon to Fri | 10 |
| Staff professional development Staff day | Jan. 4 to 5 | Mon to Tue | 2 |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day Holiday | Jan. 18 | Mon | 1 |
| Professional exchange day Staff day | Feb. 15 | Mon | 1 |
| Staff professional development Staff day | Feb. 16 | Tue | 1 |
| Spring break Break | March 15 to 19 | Mon to Fri | 5 |
| Bad weather makeup day MakeupNo school unless the district needs it to make up a bad weather day | March 26 | Fri | 1 |
| Bad weather makeup day MakeupNo school unless the district needs it to make up a bad weather day | March 29 | Mon | 1 |
HPISD early release days
Four early release days in all. Two are for every school. The other two are for some schools only.
| Date | Day | What | Dismissal | Who |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec. 17 | Thu | Early release | Early, time not printed | Grades 5-12 only |
| Dec. 18 | Fri | Last day before winter break | Early, time not printed | All students, K-12 |
| May 27 | Thu | Early release | Early, time not printed | Grades 5-12 only |
| May 28 | Fri | Last day of school | Early, time not printed | All students, K-12 |
Calendar notes: what to plan around
Long weekends and breaks
Every stretch of three or more days with no school, counting weekends. A half day next to a weekend adds half a day.
- 3-day weekend: Saturday, Sept. 5 to Monday, Sept. 7. Labor Day. Back Tuesday, Sept. 8.
- 3-day weekend: Saturday, Oct. 10 to Monday, Oct. 12. Professional exchange day. Back Tuesday, Oct. 13.
- 4-day weekend: Saturday, Oct. 31 to Tuesday, Nov. 3. Staff professional development and Conference day, no school for students. Back Wednesday, Nov. 4.
- 9 days off in a row: Saturday, Nov. 21 to Sunday, Nov. 29. Thanksgiving break. Back Monday, Nov. 30.
- 18.5 days off in a row: Friday, Dec. 18 at early dismissal to Tuesday, Jan. 5. Last day before winter break early release, winter break and staff professional development. Back Wednesday, Jan. 6.
- 3-day weekend: Saturday, Jan. 16 to Monday, Jan. 18. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Back Tuesday, Jan. 19.
- 4-day weekend: Saturday, Feb. 13 to Tuesday, Feb. 16. Professional exchange day and staff professional development. Back Wednesday, Feb. 17.
- 9 days off in a row: Saturday, March 13 to Sunday, March 21. Spring break. Back Monday, March 22.
- 4-day weekend: Friday, March 26 to Monday, March 29. Bad weather makeup day. Back Tuesday, March 30.
Weeks with fewer than five school days
Nine weeks have fewer than five school days, and four weeks have none at all.
| Week of | School days | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Aug. 17 | 3 | Before the first day |
| Sept. 7 | 4 | Labor Day |
| Oct. 12 | 4 | Professional exchange day |
| Nov. 2 | 3 | Staff professional development and Conference day, no school for students |
| Nov. 23 | 0 | Thanksgiving break |
| Dec. 21 | 0 | Winter break |
| Dec. 28 | 0 | Winter break |
| Jan. 4 | 3 | Staff professional development |
| Jan. 18 | 4 | Martin Luther King Jr. Day |
| Feb. 15 | 3 | Professional exchange day and staff professional development |
| March 15 | 0 | Spring break |
| March 22 | 4 | Bad weather makeup day |
| March 29 | 4 | Bad weather makeup day |
Teacher workdays: no school for students
Five of the days off are staff days. Teachers work; students stay home. Plan child care as you would for a holiday.
- Monday, Oct. 12: professional exchange day
- Monday, Nov. 2: staff professional development
- Monday, Jan. 4 to Tuesday, Jan. 5: staff professional development
- Monday, Feb. 15: professional exchange day
- Tuesday, Feb. 16: staff professional development
Makeup days
Bad weather makeup day, Friday, March 26 (only if needed; otherwise no school) and Bad weather makeup day, Monday, March 29 (only if needed; otherwise no school).
Also worth knowing
- School is open on a federal holiday: Veterans Day (Wednesday, Nov. 11). Banks, post offices and many offices close; school does not.
- Some days off may change: Bad weather makeup day, March 26 (No school unless the district needs it to make up a bad weather day) and Bad weather makeup day, March 29 (No school unless the district needs it to make up a bad weather day).
- After the last day, the calendar still shows Memorial Day (May 31). Students are already out.
First and last day of school
The first day of school is Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026. The last day is Friday, May 28, 2027, with early dismissal.
Teachers start sooner. Staff days before school run Aug. 11 to 18.
The district prints 172 instructional days across the quarters. Our count of the calendar matches.
Grading periods
HPISD has four grading periods, the same for K-12: 79 days in the first semester and 93 in the second, as the calendar prints them.
| Period | Dates | School days |
|---|---|---|
| 1st grading period | Aug. 19 to Oct. 16 | 41 |
| 2nd grading period | Oct. 19 to Dec. 18 | 38 |
| 3rd grading period | Jan. 6 to March 12 | 45 |
| 4th grading period | March 22 to May 28 | 48 |
What the district notes
- Staff work two Saturdays: Dec. 19, 2026 and May 29, 2027 are work days for staff. Students have no school either day.
- The calendar counts 187 teacher days.
- For delays, cancellations or closures, HPISD notifies families by social media, the district and campus websites, text and email.
Common questions
When does HPISD start in 2026?
The first day of school for Highland Park Independent School District is Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026.
When is the last day of school for HPISD in 2027?
The last day for students is Friday, May 28, 2027. It is an early release day.
When is winter break for HPISD?
Winter break runs Monday, Dec. 21 to Friday, Jan. 1. Counting weekends and the days next to it, students are out Saturday, Dec. 19 to Tuesday, Jan. 5 and go back Wednesday, Jan. 6.
When is spring break for HPISD?
Spring break runs Monday, March 15 to Friday, March 19. Counting weekends, students are out Saturday, March 13 to Sunday, March 21 and go back Monday, March 22.
When is Thanksgiving break for HPISD?
Thanksgiving break runs Monday, Nov. 23 to Friday, Nov. 27. Counting weekends, students are out Saturday, Nov. 21 to Sunday, Nov. 29 and go back Monday, Nov. 30.
Does HPISD have early release days in 2026-27?
Yes. Friday, Dec. 18 (early, time not printed) and Friday, May 28 (early, time not printed) are for every school. Grades 5-12 only: Thursday, Dec. 17 and Thursday, May 27 (early, time not printed).
How do I put the HPISD calendar on my phone?
Download one of the .ics files on this page. On an iPhone, open it and tap Add All. On Android or a computer, import it into Google Calendar or Outlook.
How we checked these dates
We read every date off the district's own calendar image twice: once whole, cell by cell against its legend, and once on zoomed crops of each month. Then we checked each one against the district's Calendars page.
Every weekday on this page matches its date. The district's printed day counts match our own count of its calendar. If the district changes its calendar, its page is the final word.
Where each date is on the district's calendar
- First day, Aug. 19: HPISD 2026-27 Academic Calendar (PDF), page 1, August 2026 grid, 19 in pink with "(" (grading period start); Dates at a Glance "Aug. 19 First Day of School". Also: HPISD Calendars page, "2026-27 Holidays" list, "Aug. 19: First Day of School".
- Last day, May 28: HPISD 2026-27 Academic Calendar (PDF), page 1, May 2027 grid, 28 in pink with ")"; Dates at a Glance "May 28 Student Early Release K-12 / Last Day of School". Also: HPISD Calendars page, "2026-27 Holidays" list, "May 28: Early Release, Grades K-12; Last Day of School".
- Staff professional development, Aug. 11 to 18: HPISD 2026-27 Academic Calendar (PDF), page 1, August 2026 grid, 11 to 14, 17 and 18 in yellow; Dates at a Glance "Aug. 11-18 Professional Development Days".
- Labor Day, Sept. 7: HPISD 2026-27 Academic Calendar (PDF), page 1, September 2026 grid, 7 in blue; Dates at a Glance "Sept. 7 Holiday". Also: HPISD Calendars page, "2026-27 Holidays" list, "Sept. 7: Student Holiday".
- Professional exchange day, Oct. 12: HPISD 2026-27 Academic Calendar (PDF), page 1, October 2026 grid, 12 in light blue; Dates at a Glance "Oct. 12 Professional Exchange Day / Student Holiday". Also: HPISD Calendars page, "2026-27 Holidays" list, "Oct. 12: Professional Exchange Day; Staff and Student Holiday".
- Staff professional development, Nov. 2: HPISD 2026-27 Academic Calendar (PDF), page 1, November 2026 grid, 2 in yellow; Dates at a Glance "Nov. 2 Professional Development Day / Student Holiday". Also: HPISD Calendars page, "2026-27 Holidays" list, "Nov. 2: Professional Development Day; Student Holiday".
- Conference day, no school for students, Nov. 3: HPISD 2026-27 Academic Calendar (PDF), page 1, November 2026 grid, 3 in lavender; Dates at a Glance "Nov. 3 Conference Day / Student Holiday". Also: HPISD Calendars page, "2026-27 Holidays" list, "Nov. 3: Conference Day; Student Holiday".
- Thanksgiving break, Nov. 23 to 27: HPISD 2026-27 Academic Calendar (PDF), page 1, November 2026 grid, 23 to 27 in blue; Dates at a Glance "Nov. 23-27 Thanksgiving Holiday". Also: HPISD Calendars page, "2026-27 Holidays" list, "Nov. 23-27: Thanksgiving Holiday".
- Winter break, Dec. 21 to Jan. 1: HPISD 2026-27 Academic Calendar (PDF), page 1, December 2026 grid, 21 to 25 and 28 to 31 in blue, January 2027 grid, 1 in blue; Dates at a Glance "Dec. 21-Jan. 1 Holiday Break". Also: HPISD Calendars page, "2026-27 Holidays" list, "Dec. 21-Jan. 1: Winter Break".
- Staff professional development, Jan. 4 to 5: HPISD 2026-27 Academic Calendar (PDF), page 1, January 2027 grid, 4 and 5 in yellow; Dates at a Glance "Jan. 4-5 Professional Development Day / Student Holiday". Also: HPISD Calendars page, "2026-27 Holidays" list, "Jan. 4-5: Professional Development Days; Student Holiday".
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Jan. 18: HPISD 2026-27 Academic Calendar (PDF), page 1, January 2027 grid, 18 in blue; Dates at a Glance "Jan. 18 Holiday". Also: HPISD Calendars page, "2026-27 Holidays" list, "Jan. 18: Holiday".
- Professional exchange day, Feb. 15: HPISD 2026-27 Academic Calendar (PDF), page 1, February 2027 grid, 15 in light blue; Dates at a Glance "Feb. 15 Professional Exchange Day / Student Holiday". Also: HPISD Calendars page, "2026-27 Holidays" list, "Feb. 15: Professional Exchange Day; Staff and Student Holiday".
- Staff professional development, Feb. 16: HPISD 2026-27 Academic Calendar (PDF), page 1, February 2027 grid, 16 in yellow; Dates at a Glance "Feb. 16 Professional Development Day / Student Holiday". Also: HPISD Calendars page, "2026-27 Holidays" list, "Feb. 16: Professional Development Day; Student Holiday".
- Spring break, March 15 to 19: HPISD 2026-27 Academic Calendar (PDF), page 1, March 2027 grid, 15 to 19 in blue; Dates at a Glance "March 15-19 Spring Break". Also: HPISD Calendars page, "2026-27 Holidays" list, "Mar. 15-19: Spring Break".
- Bad weather makeup day, March 26: HPISD 2026-27 Academic Calendar (PDF), page 1, March 2027 grid, 26 in orange; Dates at a Glance "March 26 Bad Weather Make-Up Day". Also: HPISD Calendars page, "2026-27 Holidays" list, "Mar. 26: Bad Weather Make-Up Day".
- Bad weather makeup day, March 29: HPISD 2026-27 Academic Calendar (PDF), page 1, March 2027 grid, 29 in orange; Dates at a Glance "March 29 Bad Weather Make-Up Day". Also: HPISD Calendars page, "2026-27 Holidays" list, "Mar. 29: Bad Weather Make-Up Day".
- Memorial Day, May 31: HPISD 2026-27 Academic Calendar (PDF), page 1, May 2027 grid, 31 in blue; Dates at a Glance "May 31 Holiday". Also: HPISD Calendars page, "2026-27 Holidays" list, "May 31: Holiday".
- Early release, Dec. 17: HPISD 2026-27 Academic Calendar (PDF), page 1, December 2026 grid, 17 in peach; Dates at a Glance "Dec. 17 Student Early Release 5-12 only". Also: HPISD Calendars page, "2026-27 Holidays" list, "Dec. 17: Early Release, Grades 5-12".
- Last day before winter break, Dec. 18: HPISD 2026-27 Academic Calendar (PDF), page 1, December 2026 grid, 18 in pink with ")" (grading period end); Dates at a Glance "Dec. 18 Student Early Release K-12". Also: HPISD Calendars page, "2026-27 Holidays" list, "Dec. 18: Early Release, Grades K-12".
- Early release, May 27: HPISD 2026-27 Academic Calendar (PDF), page 1, May 2027 grid, 27 in peach; Dates at a Glance "May 27 Student Early Release 5-12 only". Also: HPISD Calendars page, "2026-27 Holidays" list, "May 27: Early Release, Grades 5-12".
- Last day of school, May 28: HPISD 2026-27 Academic Calendar (PDF), page 1, May 2027 grid, 28 in pink; Dates at a Glance "May 28 Student Early Release K-12 / Last Day of School". Also: HPISD Calendars page, "2026-27 Holidays" list, "May 28: Early Release, Grades K-12; Last Day of School".
- 1st grading period: HPISD 2026-27 Academic Calendar (PDF), page 1, Grading Periods K-12: "[Aug. 19-Oct. 16] - 1st Grading Period - 41 days (9 Weeks)"; grid brackets "(19" Aug. and "16)" Oct.
- 2nd grading period: HPISD 2026-27 Academic Calendar (PDF), page 1, Grading Periods K-12: "[Oct. 19-Dec. 18] - 2nd Grading Period - 38 days (8 Weeks)"; grid brackets "(19" Oct. and "18)" Dec.
- 3rd grading period: HPISD 2026-27 Academic Calendar (PDF), page 1, Grading Periods K-12: "[Jan. 6 -March 12] - 3rd Grading Period - 45 days (10 Weeks)"; grid brackets "(6" Jan. and "12)" March.
- 4th grading period: HPISD 2026-27 Academic Calendar (PDF), page 1, Grading Periods K-12: "[March 22-May 28] - 4th Grading Period - 48 days (10 Weeks)"; grid brackets "(22" March and "28)" May.