The 2016-2017 school calendar will allow for a greater number of intermittent breaks and ensure that periodic breaks will occur even if bad weather days must be utilized. The calendar also better supports targeted and timely job-embedded professional development and collaboration opportunities. Another benefit will be more dedicated teacher work day time.

The elementary school day will be from 7:45 a.m. to 2:55 p.m., with the first bell ringing at 7:40 a.m. signaling time to report to class. (Hours are 7:50 a.m. to 2:50 p.m. in the 2015-16 school year.)

Middle school times will remain the same, with the school day being from 8:25 a.m. to 3:35 p.m., with the first bell ringing at 8:20 a.m.

High school instruction will begin at 9 a.m. and end at 4:15 p.m. with the first bell signaling to get to class ringing at 8:55 a.m. (School ends at 4:10 p.m. in the 2015-16 school year.)

These times allow for triple routing of buses and also enough extra minutes at the high school level to accommodate days when early release or late arrival is necessary due to testing or graduation schedules.

Students will go to school three fewer days in 2016-17 compared to the 2015-16 school year. Students previously attended 177 days and will now attend 174 days. Extra days off include January 2, 2017, which will be a staff development day; February 20, 2017, which is Presidents' Day; and April 14, 2017, Good Friday. 

The week of March 6-10, 2017 aligns with Spring Break at Collin College, where many of our students are enrolled in dual-credit courses. It is also consistent with Spring Break in the other nearby Collin County districts such as McKinney ISD, Plano ISD, Allen ISD and Wylie ISD. We know that many of our employees live in these Districts as well. We would all prefer a later week for Spring Break, however, and FISD has spoken with Collin College and staff members have assured us they will be in touch with us before proposing future calendars.