Northwest ISD board members received a recommendation from staff regarding the 2024-25 and 2025-26 instructional calendars at their Dec. 11 meeting.

In a nutshell

Northwest ISD staff opened a two-week survey that ended Dec. 6 to get community feedback on two different calendars that included the following options:
  • Option A: Thanksgiving break lasts the entire week for students. Staff may use flex days on the Monday and Tuesday of the break. This option most closely mirrors the current 2023-24 calendar.
  • Option B: Thanksgiving break lasts Wednesday to Friday to allow for an earlier start date for summer break, which would be May 21, 2025. The last day of the current school year is May 24, 2024.
During her presentation to the board, Stephanie Espinosa, executive director of teaching and learning, said that Option A was chosen by an “overwhelming” 89%.

The details

Espinosa informed the board that staff was recommending Option A and that it included the following important dates for the 2024-25 school year:
  • Aug. 14: first day of school
  • May 23: last day of school
  • Nov. 25-29: Thanksgiving break
  • Dec. 20-Jan. 3: winter break
  • March 17-21: spring break
Significant dates in Option A for the 2025-26 school year include:
  • Aug. 13: first day of school
  • May 22: last day of school
  • Nov. 24-28: Thanksgiving break
  • Dec. 19-Jan. 2: winter break
  • March 16-20: spring break
Espinosa provided a caveat that since the district plans out two academic years at a time, the 2025-26 is subject to change should the state make changes to testing dates or Tarrant County College make changes to its break schedule. TCC provides dual credit and other learning options for Northwest ISD students, and the district tries to mirror TCC's schedule for breaks.


This item was for discussion purposes only. No action was taken at the Dec. 11 meeting.

Quote of note

“Our goal with an instructional calendar is to do what’s best to positively impact student achievement,” Espinosa said.