DENISON, Texas — Denison ISD students returned to campus Thursday, Aug. 13, for the first day of the 2026-27 school year, according to the district's published academic calendar. The same calendar lists the Labor Day holiday on Monday, Sept. 7, as the first day off after classes begin.
The Denison calendar lists Aug. 12 as a faculty and staff work day with no students, the day before the student year opened. Regular hours are 7:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. for prekindergarten through fourth grade and 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at B. McDaniel, Scott Middle School and Denison High School. On early-release days, PK-4 dismisses at 12:15 p.m., B. McDaniel and Scott at 1 p.m., and Denison High School at 1:05 p.m.
The mid-August start rests on an exemption from state law. Texas Education Code Section 25.0811 generally bars a district from beginning student instruction before the fourth Monday in August, subject to listed exceptions. Denison ISD says it became a District of Innovation in 2016 to exempt itself from that uniform start date, and that its Board of Trustees approved a renewed innovation plan on April 19, 2022. The district says the exemption was meant to allow an earlier August start, an ending before Memorial Day, and completion of the first semester before Christmas break.
The calendar lists Thanksgiving break for Nov. 23-27, Christmas break for Dec. 21 through Jan. 1, and spring break for March 15-19. The student year ends May 20, 2027, marked as an early-release day. The calendar lists May 21 as a faculty and staff work day with no students.
Denison ISD's 2024-25 Texas Academic Performance Report reported 4,967 students in membership and 4,977 students in enrollment, with 362.3 teachers and 13.7 students per teacher. The same report listed 3,044 economically disadvantaged students, or 61.3% of membership.
Source: Denison ISD 2024-25 Texas Academic Performance Report
Nearby districts approved different 2026-27 calendars. Gainesville ISD says its Board of Trustees approved a calendar with a first day of Aug. 12 and a last day of May 27, and that the plan increases student days from 158 to 165, shortens the instructional day by 25 minutes, and leaves zero banked days or minutes for closures. Sherman ISD's calendar highlights list Aug. 11 as the first day of school and May 14 as the last; the district says the calendar is designed to meet Texas Education Agency instructional-minute requirements and adds 10 minutes to the elementary school day because of designated breaks. Pottsboro ISD's student term runs Aug. 13, 2026, to May 20, 2027, with 79 days in the first semester and 81 in the second, and the district lists school hours of 7:50 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.
Two neighboring districts start days apart and finish nearly two weeks apart
Sherman ISD
First day Aug. 11, last day May 14. The district says the calendar meets state instructional-minute requirements and adds 10 minutes to the elementary day because of designated breaks.
Gainesville ISD
First day Aug. 12, last day May 27. Student days rise from 158 to 165, the instructional day shortens by 25 minutes, and no banked days or minutes remain for closures.
Source: Sherman ISD and Gainesville ISD 2026-27 academic calendars
Texas Education Code Section 25.081 requires each school district to operate for at least 75,600 minutes each school year, unless otherwise authorized.
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