Students return to campuses Aug. 19 for the first day of the 2024-25 school year in Cy-Fair ISD.

What’s changing?

Parents and guardians are responsible for getting their children to and from school if they do not meet the eligibility criteria for bus service, which has been updated for the 2024-25 school year.

The plan for 2024-25 includes:

• Not serving elementary students within 1 mile of their campus, or middle or high school students within 2 miles of their campus unless they live on routes with hazardous traffic conditions
• Eliminating late bus runs
• Eliminating service to alternative learning centers

Hazardous conditions, as defined by the board, vary between elementary, middle and high school levels but may include:

• Crossing a tollway, state highway or FM road
• Crossing a moderately or heavily traveled roadway with protected crossing, such as a traffic light or stop sign
• Crossing railroad tracks
• Walking along a moderately or heavily traveled roadway without a safe walking path

District officials said students should practice their routes to school before the first day, and parents should remind their children to wear helmets while biking and avoid talking to or accepting rides from strangers.

Additionally, the following safety measures are being implemented:

• Heightened security near campuses from Cy-Fair ISD Police Department and Harris County constables
• School zones in effect 45 minutes before school starts in the mornings and 30 minutes after school concludes in the afternoons
• Increasing the number of crossing guards across the district

Click here to learn more about this year’s transportation plan.

On the menu

Tens of thousands of students will receive free breakfasts and lunches this school year with 47 CFISD campuses qualifying for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s school nutrition program. See a full list of eligible campuses here.

Parents of students who do not attend one of these campuses can submit this form to determine eligibility.

According to the district, students who qualify for reduced-price meals will also receive free breakfasts and lunches in 2024-25. The state is subsidizing breakfast costs, and the district’s nutrition services department is subsidizing lunch costs for these students.

Dates to know

• Aug. 19: First day of school
• Sept. 2: Student/staff holiday
• Oct. 14: Student/staff holiday
• Nov. 4: Professional day/student holiday
• Nov. 5: Teacher work day/student holiday
• Nov. 25-29: Student/staff holiday
• Dec. 23-Jan. 3: Student/staff holiday
• Jan. 6: Professional day/student holiday
• Jan. 20: Student/staff holiday
• Feb. 14: Professional day/student holiday
• Feb. 17: Professional day/student holiday (inclement weather makeup day)
• March 10-14: Student/staff holiday
• April 18: Student/staff holiday
• April 21: Professional day/student holiday (inclement weather makeup day)
• May 26: Student/staff holiday
• May 29: Last day of school
• May 30: Professional day/student holiday

What else?

Students in grades 6-12 are required to carry clear backpacks. The maximum size for nontransparent bags, such as lunch boxes and purses, is 6 inches by 9 inches. This policy does not apply to elementary students.

Parents can opt into the district’s emergency notification system by texting “Y” to 67587.

Registration is open for Club Rewind, a before- and after-school care program for pre-K through fifth grade students. Learn more here.

New students can register online here.

Get involved

Volunteers are needed to serve in CFISD schools, including these opportunities:

• Library aide
• Workroom help
• Campus events
• Fundraisers
• Staff appreciation luncheons
• Mentoring
• Public relations
• Tutoring
• Assisting in instructional areas