CFISD Board Approves 2026-27 Instructional Calendar After Community Input and Review
Families across the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District can now begin planning ahead for the 2026-2027 school year, as the CFISD Board of Trustees officially approved the district’s new instructional calendar during its Nov. 10 meeting.
The finalized academic calendar was the result of months of careful planning, collaborative input, and thoughtful feedback from the CFISD community. At the heart of the process was the Districtwide Educational Improvement Council (DEIC), a diverse committee made up of teachers, parents, local business partners, non-teaching professionals, and community members.
The DEIC met multiple times throughout September and October to review district needs and legislative guidelines, ultimately developing and presenting 12 calendar drafts. The top two options were then shared with the public for feedback—drawing in more than 15,000 completed surveys from across the district.
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Thanks to CFISD’s status as a District of Innovation, the district is exempt from a state law that typically prohibits schools from starting before the fourth Monday in August. This flexibility allowed for a schedule that better aligns with instructional goals, family preferences, and teacher support.
The 2026-27 CFISD instructional calendar includes several key highlights and holidays:
- First Day of School for Students: Wednesday, August 12, 2026
- Labor Day Holiday: Monday, September 7, 2026
- Fall Break: October 12–16, 2026
- Thanksgiving Break: November 23–27, 2026
- Winter Break: December 21, 2026 – January 1, 2027
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Monday, January 18, 2027
- Spring Break: March 15–19, 2027
- Student/Staff Holiday: Friday, March 26, 2027
- Last Day of School for Students: Thursday, May 27, 2027
- Memorial Day Holiday (Staff): Monday, May 31, 2027
Additionally, the calendar includes three teacher workdays—which are also student holidays—on October 9, November 3, and March 12. Of those, October 9 and March 12 are designated inclement weather makeup days.
The 2026-27 calendar was designed not only to meet the state-mandated requirement of 75,600 instructional minutes for students and 187 teacher contract days, but also to prioritize student learning, wellness, and teacher satisfaction. CFISD leaders hope the calendar will also serve as a tool for recruiting and retaining high-quality educators, with balanced breaks and structured planning days.
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To access or download the full calendar, visit the CFISD calendar webpage.
This calendar announcement is particularly important for families living in Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, one of the largest and fastest-growing school districts in Texas. With thousands of students, educators, and staff members impacted, early access to the calendar allows households to align vacation plans, childcare arrangements, and academic priorities well in advance.
As part of its ongoing mission to engage the community and support student success, CFISD encourages all parents and guardians to stay involved by visiting the district website for updates on calendars, policies, and other important initiatives.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
