Note: HISD has several Staff Professional Development (PD) days where students do not attend. The Winter Break runs from Dec 21 to Jan 4. Spring Break is the second week of March (Mar 8-12). Always check with your specific campus for any early dismissal schedules.

HISD closes for a full week at Thanksgiving, from Monday, November 23 through Friday, November 27, 2026. Classes resume on Monday, November 30. Note that November 6 is a Staff Professional Development day, so students are off that Friday as well.

Winter break runs Monday, December 21, 2026, through Monday, January 4, 2027. The official first day back for students is Tuesday, January 5, 2027, since January 4 is a Staff Professional Development day.

This is the break everybody plans for. It usually lands near the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, which is billed as the biggest of its kind in the world. Go for the carnival rides, the animals, and the food. If you want water, Galveston beaches are an hour away, though the Gulf is still chilly in March. Kemah Boardwalk is great for kids. Or stay in town and do the Museum District, where Children’s Museum Houston and the Museum of Natural Science can eat up a whole day. Book early if you’re flying, because prices jump once spring break starts.

School ends Friday, May 28, and the new year starts Aug. 10, so you get about ten weeks. Houston summers are hot and sticky, so plan around air conditioning and water. Splash pads, community pools, and indoor museums save you from the midday heat. Libraries run reading programs that keep kids busy cheaply. Galveston is the classic day trip, and you can beat the crowds by going on a weekday. Early mornings are the best time to do anything outdoors here. By 2 p.m. most people are hiding inside, and that’s normal.