Academic calendar
Houston ISD School Year 2026-2027 runs Aug 10, 2026 – May 28, 2027. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.
- Houston ISD School Year 2026-2027Relevant now
Campus language
Search the full glossary. Nothing is sampled or hidden when the search field is empty.
Showing 8 of 8 terms
C
- Cougars
- The official school mascot, used to refer to students, faculty, and the school community at large.
G
- GT
- Gifted and Talented; refers to the identification and specialized instruction for students performing at high levels.
K
- Kolter Strong
- A community motto and hashtag adopted to signify resilience following the school's destruction by Hurricane Harvey and its subsequent rebuilding.
M
- Magnet
- Shorthand for the school's status as a Foreign Language Magnet program, which draws students from across the district.
P
- PTO
- Parent Teacher Organization; the primary volunteer body responsible for fundraising and school events.
S
- SchoolCafe
- The digital platform and mobile app used by parents to fund student meal accounts and view cafeteria menus.
- SDMC
- Shared Decision-Making Committee; an advisory group of parents, teachers, and staff that oversees school improvement plans.
V
- VIPS
- Volunteers in Public Schools; the mandatory HISD background check system required for any parent or visitor to volunteer on campus.
Places and practicalities
Buildings, logistics, and other local references drawn from the approved campus snapshot.
- Ancillary
- The local term for 'specials' or elective classes, including Art, Music, Physical Education, Science Lab, and Library.
- Carpool
- The specific, highly structured vehicle queue system for student drop-off in the morning and pick-up in the afternoon.
- Early Release
- Scheduled days in the HISD calendar where students are dismissed at 12:30 PM to allow for teacher professional development.
- HISD Connect
- The PowerSchool-based parent portal used to track student grades, attendance, and official records.
- Spark Park
- The community-accessible playground and park area located on the school grounds, developed through a public-private partnership.
- The Pavilion
- The covered outdoor structure used for physical education classes, recess, and community events.
Quick answers
Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.
- What academic term is relevant now?
- Houston ISD School Year 2026-2027 runs Aug 10, 2026 – May 28, 2027.
- How much campus context is included?
- 8 approved campus terms and 6 local details are included in full.
- Are all approved campus terms included?
- Yes. The complete approved glossary is available in the scrollable, searchable campus-language section.
- Where does this guide come from?
- Calendar dates, campus terms, and local details come from DormWay's approved campus reference library.