Waco ISD Calendar 26-27 is finally out, and if you’re a parent in Waco, Texas, this is the page to bookmark. We verified this directly from Waco ISD’s official website and the official district PDF, so every date below is straight from the source, not a guess. This guide covers the full Waco ISD Calendar 2026-27 template for the 2026–2027 school year, including the first day of school, last day of school, holidays, and the Waco ISD Calendar spring break 2027 dates.
Whether you’re scheduling a vacation, planning childcare, or just trying to keep track of early release days, this page is built to be your one-stop reference. Parents bookmark this page because school calendars change, get updated, or get buried on the district website, and having one clean, easy-to-read version saves time all year long.
At-a-Glance Summary
Here’s the quick version if you’re in a hurry.
- First day of school: August 12, 2026
- Last day of school: May 28, 2027
- Total school days: 174
Waco ISD students will attend 174 instructional days this year, and teachers are contracted for 187 workdays. The district logs 80,190 total minutes of instruction, plus 4,590 additional minutes (about 10.20 extra days worth) built into the schedule.
Key Dates Table — Waco ISD Calendar 26-27
This is the full breakdown of the Waco ISD Calendar 26-27, from the first day of school through the last day, plus every major break in between.
| Event | Start Date | End Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Staff Orientation | July 28, 2026 | July 29, 2026 | Staff only |
| Elementary Teacher Work Day | August 6, 2026 | August 6, 2026 | Staff only |
| Secondary Teacher Work Day | August 10, 2026 | August 10, 2026 | Staff only |
| First Day of School | August 12, 2026 | August 12, 2026 | Beginning of 1st Six Weeks |
| Labor Day | September 7, 2026 | September 7, 2026 | Student & staff holiday |
| Fall Break | October 12, 2026 | October 16, 2026 | No school |
| Thanksgiving Break | November 23, 2026 | November 27, 2026 | No school |
| Winter Break | December 21, 2026 | January 2, 2027 | No school |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | January 18, 2027 | January 18, 2027 | Student & staff holiday |
| Spring Break | March 8, 2027 | March 12, 2027 | No school |
| Good Friday | March 26, 2027 | March 26, 2027 | Student & staff holiday |
| Last Day of School | May 28, 2027 | May 28, 2027 | Early Release / Half Day |
Source: Waco ISD official calendar.
Always double-check and verify the calendar from the official Waco ISD website before finalizing travel or childcare plans, since districts can amend calendars mid-year for weather or board decisions.
Six-Week Grading Periods
If you’re tracking report cards or progress reports, here’s how the year breaks into six-week periods.
| Period | Instructional Days | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Six Weeks | 27 days | August 12, 2026 | September 18, 2026 |
| 2nd Six Weeks | 28 days | September 21, 2026 | November 6, 2026 |
| 3rd Six Weeks | 24 days | November 9, 2026 | December 18, 2026 |
| 4th Six Weeks | 31 days | January 5, 2027 | February 19, 2027 |
| 5th Six Weeks | 34 days | February 22, 2027 | April 16, 2027 |
| 6th Six Weeks | 30 days | April 19, 2027 | May 28, 2027 |
First Semester totals 79 instructional days, and the Second Semester totals 95 days, for a combined 174 days.
Early Release Days
| Date | Day | Event |
|---|---|---|
| December 18, 2026 | Friday | Early Release Day |
| May 28, 2027 | Friday | Early Release Day |
School Start & End Times by Campus
| Campus Level | Regular Schedule | Minutes |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary School | 7:30 AM – 3:15 PM | 450 min |
| Elementary Early Release | 7:30 AM – 12:00 PM | 270 min |
| Middle School | 8:45 AM – 4:30 PM | 450 min |
| Middle School Early Release | 8:45 AM – 1:15 PM | 270 min |
| High School | 8:15 AM – 4:00 PM | 450 min |
| High School Early Release | 8:15 AM – 12:45 PM | 270 min |
| LAMMS | 7:30 AM – 3:15 PM | 450 min |
| LAMMS Early Release | 7:30 AM – 12:00 PM | 270 min |
Teacher Workdays & Professional Development
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| July 28–29, 2026 | New Staff Orientation |
| August 3–7, 2026 | Student Holiday / Staff Inservice or Workday |
| August 6, 2026 | Elementary Teacher Work Day |
| August 10, 2026 | Secondary Teacher Work Day |
| August 10–11, 2026 | Student Holiday / Staff Inservice or Workday |
| September 28, 2026 | Professional Development |
| October 26, 2026 | Professional Development |
| November 30, 2026 | Campus Day / Staff Workday |
| January 4, 2027 | Staff Workday / Half Day Campus Day |
| February 8–9, 2027 | PD Symposium |
Source: Waco ISD official calendar.
Always double-check and verify the calendar from the official Waco ISD website, since teacher workday dates are sometimes adjusted at the campus level.
Download the Official Waco ISD Calendar
Want a printable copy for your fridge or planner? You can download the official Waco ISD Calendar 26-27 printable PDF directly from the district here:
Download the Official Waco ISD 2026-2027 Calendar PDF
See also: Average Number of School Days by State (2026 Data)
About Waco ISD
Waco ISD serves more than 15,000 students throughout the city of Waco in McLennan County, Texas, according to the district’s own overview. The district is led by Superintendent Dr. Tiffany Spicer, who joined Waco ISD in October 2024 following the retirement of former Superintendent Dr. Susan Kincannon.
Waco ISD has invested heavily in new facilities, including a new Waco High School campus and a new Kendrick Elementary as part of its $355 million bond program. The district also operates under a 2025–2030 Strategic Plan focused in part on closing student achievement gaps. In January 2026, Dr. Tiffany Spicer was selected by the National School Public Relations Association as a 2025–26 “Superintendent to Watch,” one of 30 district leaders nationwide to receive the recognition.
What Parents in McLennan County Should Know This Year
A few things stand out in the Waco ISD Calendar 2026 27 template. Winter Break stretches from December 21, 2026, through January 2, 2027, giving families a full two weeks to travel or stay home without missing school. Spring Break lands March 8–12, 2027, which is on the earlier side compared to some nearby districts, so if you’re planning a trip, book early since that week overlaps with several other Central Texas districts. The school year also ends with a half-day early release on May 28, 2027, so don’t plan a full school day for the last day.
How Waco ISD Compares to Neighboring Districts
Midway ISD, which borders Waco ISD in McLennan County, also starts its 2026–2027 school year on August 12, 2026, the same first day as Waco ISD, but Midway’s last day is May 21, 2027, about a week earlier than Waco ISD’s May 28 finish. Midway ISD’s board also confirmed a full week off for Thanksgiving and two full weeks for winter break, similar in structure to Waco ISD’s approach. If you have kids in both districts, or you’re comparing options before a move within McLennan County, the shared August 12 start date makes early planning easier, even though the school year length and end date differ.
Planning a Family Trip? Best Times to Travel in McLennan County
Winter Break is your longest window this year, running December 21, 2026, through January 2, 2027. That’s 13 days, which is enough time for a longer trip without burning extra vacation days. Spring Break, March 8–12, 2027, is a shorter five-day window and tends to be a popular travel week across Central Texas, so flights and hotels book up fast. Fall Break, October 12–16, 2026, is a good lesser-known option if you want to travel without the Spring Break crowds and prices.
See also: La Joya ISD Calendar 2026-2027 | Printable PDF
School Closings History in McLennan County
Waco ISD’s calendar includes a section for Bad Weather Makeup Days, but as of this year’s official calendar, no specific makeup dates are listed. That means the district hasn’t pre-scheduled extra days for winter storms or other closures this year. Central Texas typically sees very few weather-related school closures in a given year, though ice storms in January have caused occasional one-day closures in past years across the region.
FAQs
Q: When does school start at Waco ISD for 2026–2027?
School starts on August 12, 2026. That’s the first day of the 1st Six Weeks grading period, according to the official Waco ISD calendar.
Q: When is the last day of school for Waco ISD?
The last day of school is May 28, 2027. It’s also an early release day, so students get a half day to close out the year.
Q: When is spring break for Waco ISD in 2027?
Spring Break runs March 8–12, 2027. That’s a full week off, right in the middle of the 5th Six Weeks grading period.
Q: How many school days does Waco ISD have this year?
Waco ISD has 174 total student instructional days for 2026–2027, split into 79 days in the first semester and 95 days in the second semester.
Q: Are there any school closings or delays I should know about?
The official calendar does not list any pre-scheduled bad weather makeup days for 2026–2027. For real-time closings due to weather or other emergencies, check the Waco ISD website or its official social media directly.
Final Thoughts
Bookmark this page now, because you’ll want to come back to it more than once this year. For real-time closings, weather delays, or last-minute schedule changes, the Waco ISD official website is always your best source. If you’re planning a spring trip, check back in March, since that’s when Waco ISD Calendar spring break 2027 searches spike and families start locking in travel plans. Keep this guide handy, and you’ll never miss a first day, a holiday, or an early release again.
The PublicSchoolsCalendar.com Team compiles and verifies public school calendar data for districts across all 50 US states, drawing on official district websites and published family calendars to keep every page accurate and up to date.
