The Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District, CFISD calendar for 2025-2026 serves as the essential planning resource for over 118,000 students, families, and educational staff across one of Texas’s largest school districts.
This CFISD academic calendar includes critical dates for instruction, professional development, holiday breaks, and inclement weather contingencies that shape the educational experience in northwest Harris County.
As a recognized District of Innovation, CFISD leverages enhanced scheduling flexibility to optimize student learning outcomes while accommodating community needs.
The 2025-2026 instructional calendar reflects extensive community input through the District Educational Improvement Council (DEIC) process, ensuring alignment with both educational excellence and family priorities.
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CFISD School Year Start and End Dates 2025-2026
The Cypress-Fairbanks ISD academic year officially begins with staff professional development activities on Monday, August 4, 2025. Teachers and administrators will utilize these initial days for curriculum planning, professional learning, and classroom preparation before welcoming students.
Student instruction commences on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, marking the first day of school for all CFISD campuses. This early August start date represents a strategic advantage of the district’s Innovation Plan designation, allowing departure from the traditional late-August requirement imposed on most Texas public school districts.
The final day of student instruction is scheduled for Wednesday, May 28, 2026, providing families with clear endpoints for academic year planning.
CFISD staff will conclude their contracted obligations on Thursday, May 29, 2026, completing professional responsibilities and campus closure procedures.
This CFISD academic calendar structure maximizes instructional time while providing strategic breaks throughout the year, supporting both student achievement and educator effectiveness in the Cypress-Fairbanks community.
Below are important dates on the CFISD Calendar 2025-2026.
- Professional development days for staff are scheduled from Monday, August 4, to Tuesday, August 12, 2025.
- The first day of school for students is Wednesday, August 13, 2025.
- The first grading period for both elementary and secondary students runs from Wednesday, August 13, to Thursday, October 9, 2025.
- Schools will be closed for students and staff for Labor Day on Monday, September 1, 2025.
- There will be a teacher workday, school closure make-up day, student holiday, or inclement weather day on Friday, October 10, 2025.
- Students and staff will have a holiday on Monday, October 13, and Tuesday, October 14, 2025.
- The second grading period runs from Wednesday, October 15, to Thursday, December 18, 2025.
- Students and staff will have a holiday on Monday, November 3, 2025.
- There will be a teacher workday, school closure make-up day, and student holiday on Tuesday, November 4, 2025.
- Students and staff will be on Thanksgiving break from Monday, November 24, to Friday, November 28, 2025.
- Students and staff will be on winter break from Friday, December 19, 2025, to Friday, January 2, 2026.
- A professional development day is scheduled for staff on Monday, January 5, 2026.
- The third grading period runs from Tuesday, January 6, to Friday, March 6, 2026.
- Students and staff will have a holiday in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, January 19, 2026.
- A professional development day is scheduled for staff on Friday, February 13, 2026.
- There will be a teacher workday, school closure make-up day, student holiday, or inclement weather day on Monday, February 16, 2026.
- CFISD spring break 2026 for Students and staff is from Monday, March 9, to Friday, March 13, 2026.
- The fourth grading period runs from Monday, March 16, to Thursday, May 28, 2026.
- Students and staff will have a holiday on Friday, April 3, 2026.
- A professional development day is scheduled for staff on Monday, April 6, 2026.
- Schools will be closed for students and staff for Memorial Day on Monday, May 25, 2026.
- The last day of school for students is Thursday, May 28, 2026.
- A professional development day for staff is scheduled for Friday, May 29, 2026.
CFISD Holiday Schedule and Break Periods 2025-2026
The Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District calendar incorporates significant break periods designed to support student well-being, family time, and educational staff renewal. These strategically placed holidays align with regional school district schedules and community traditions.
Fall Semester Breaks
Labor Day Holiday: Students and staff enjoy a three-day weekend with no classes on Monday, September 1, 2025.
Fall Break: The autumn holiday period spans Monday, October 13, 2025, through Tuesday, October 14, 2025, providing a mid-semester respite for students and families.
Thanksgiving Break: CFISD observes an extended Thanksgiving holiday from Monday, November 24, 2025, through Friday, November 28, 2025, offering five consecutive days for family gatherings and travel.
Winter and Spring Holiday Periods
Winter Break: The most substantial holiday period extends from Thursday, December 19, 2025, through Thursday, January 2, 2026, encompassing Christmas, New Year’s Day, and traditional winter celebrations. Classes resume on Friday, January 3, 2026.
Spring Break: Students and staff will enjoy spring vacation from Monday, March 9, 2026, through Friday, March 13, 2026, coinciding with traditional spring break timing across Houston-area school districts.
Good Friday: In observance of this religious holiday, CFISD campuses will be closed on Friday, April 3, 2026.
Memorial Day: The academic year concludes with the Memorial Day holiday on Monday, May 25, 2026, just three days before the final day of instruction.
These carefully planned break periods support family vacation planning, reduce student and staff burnout, and maintain consistency with regional educational calendars throughout southeast Texas.
Professional Development and Weather Makeup Days
The CFISD 2025-2026 calendar designates specific non-instructional days for educator professional growth and potential weather-related school closures. These strategic planning days ensure continuous improvement in teaching quality while maintaining schedule flexibility for unforeseen circumstances.
Scheduled Staff Development Days
Thursday, October 10, 2025: This dual-purpose date serves as both a staff professional development day and a designated weather makeup day if needed due to storm closures or emergency situations.
Monday, November 4, 2025: Dedicated staff development focuses on curricular enhancement, instructional strategies, and collaborative planning across all CFISD campuses.
Monday, February 16, 2026: This Presidents’ Day observance functions as another combined staff workday and weather makeup opportunity, ensuring instructional time requirements are met regardless of seasonal weather challenges.
During these non-instructional days, students do not attend classes while teachers engage in professional learning communities, data analysis, curriculum development, and strategic planning activities. These investments in educator effectiveness directly benefit student achievement throughout the Cypress-Fairbanks school district.
The dual-designation weather makeup system allows CFISD to maintain consistent academic schedules without extending the school year unnecessarily, providing predictability for families and staff while accommodating Texas Gulf Coast weather variability.
CFISD District of Innovation Benefits and Calendar Flexibility
Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District’s designation as a Texas District of Innovation provides significant advantages in academic calendar development and educational programming.
This status, approved by the Texas Education Agency, allows CFISD to implement innovative practices that benefit student learning while maintaining state accountability standards.
Enhanced Scheduling Authority
The District of Innovation designation permits CFISD to begin instruction before the traditional fourth Monday in August, enabling the earlier Wednesday, August 13, 2025 start date. This flexibility allows for:
- Improved semester balance with more instructional days before winter break
- Enhanced preparation time for state testing in spring
- Better alignment with community college dual enrollment schedules
- Reduced summer learning loss through shortened summer vacation
Community-Driven Calendar Development
The 2025-2026 CFISD calendar reflects input from over 16,000 community stakeholders through the District Educational Improvement Council (DEIC) survey process.
This collaborative approach ensures the academic schedule serves diverse family needs while maintaining educational excellence standards.
Community preferences incorporated into the calendar include extended winter break periods, consistent spring break timing with regional districts, and strategic professional development day placement.
The Innovation Plan empowers CFISD to respond to these local priorities without compromising state instructional time requirements.
Accessing Official CFISD Calendar Resources
Families, students, and staff can access comprehensive 2025-2026 calendar information through multiple official Cypress-Fairbanks ISD channels.
The district provides user-friendly formats to support diverse planning needs across the community.
Digital Calendar Access
The official CFISD website (www.cfisd.net) features interactive calendar tools allowing users to:
- Download printable PDF versions of the complete academic calendar
- Sync important dates with personal digital calendars
- Access campus-specific schedule variations and early release days
- Receive automatic updates for weather-related schedule changes
Mobile and Print Resources
CFISD mobile applications provide calendar access for smartphones and tablets, ensuring families can reference important dates while traveling or away from computer access. Many campuses also distribute printed calendar summaries during student registration and back-to-school events.
The comprehensive calendar PDF includes detailed information about early release days, professional development schedules, testing windows, and graduation ceremonies specific to different grade levels and programs across the district.
FAQs About CFISD Calendar 2025-2026
When does the CFISD school year begin and end?
Student instruction begins on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, and concludes on Wednesday, May 28, 2026. Staff professional development starts Monday, August 4, 2025, with final staff obligations ending Thursday, May 29, 2026.
What are the major holiday breaks in CFISD?
The longest break is winter vacation from Thursday, December 19, 2025, through Thursday, January 2, 2026. Spring break occurs Monday, March 9, through Friday, March 13, 2026. Thanksgiving break spans Monday, November 24, through Friday, November 28, 2025.
Which days are students not in school but staff are working?
Students do not attend on Thursday, October 10, 2025 (staff development/weather makeup), Monday, November 4, 2025 (professional development), and Monday, February 16, 2026 (staff workday/weather makeup).
How does CFISD handle weather-related school closures?
The CFISD calendar 25-26 includes built-in weather makeup days on October 10, 2025 and February 16, 2026. If no weather closures occur, these remain student holidays. Additional makeup days would be scheduled as needed to meet state instructional time requirements.
Why does CFISD start school earlier than other Texas districts?
As a District of Innovation, CFISD can begin instruction before the traditional late-August start date required for most Texas school districts. This flexibility allows better semester balance and improved academic pacing throughout the year.
Where can families access the complete CFISD calendar?
The official calendar is available on the CFISD website at www.cfisd.net/calendar, with downloadable PDF versions and mobile app integration for easy reference throughout the academic year.
CFISD Calendar Updates and Future Years
Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District typically releases preliminary calendar information for the following academic year during spring semester, allowing families extended planning time for vacation schedules, childcare arrangements, and summer camp registrations.
The 2026-2027 CFISD calendar development process will begin with community input surveys in early 2026, maintaining the district’s commitment to stakeholder engagement in educational planning.
Families interested in participating in calendar development should monitor CFISD communications for DEIC survey opportunities and community meeting announcements.
For the most current calendar information, bookmark the official CFISD calendar webpage and consider subscribing to district communications through the CFISD mobile app or email notification system.
This ensures access to real-time updates regarding weather-related schedule changes, special events, and academic calendar modifications throughout the school year.
