As summer comes to a close, it’s time for Corpus Christi families to start thinking about school buses, backpacks and books.
The first day of school for Corpus Christi Independent School District students is Aug. 11.
Other area school districts return shortly afterward, including the West Oso Independent School District on Aug. 12 and the Flour Bluff and Calallen districts on Aug. 13.
If you have a child awaiting the start of the school year, here are a few things to know:
When does the school year start? Where can I find the calendar?
Corpus Christi ISD’s 2025-26 calendar is available online at ccisd.us under the “school calendar” tab. The year starts for students on Aug. 11 and ends May 28.
Corpus Christi ISD offers a fall intersession Oct. 13-17.
Other school districts have different calendars. This means that in addition to different first and last days, each district also gives students different days off for holidays and intersessions.
Exact dates might vary, but federal holidays, Thanksgiving, winter and spring breaks are recognized by each district. A handful of districts also give days off during the Nueces County Junior Livestock Show.
West Oso ISD returns on Aug. 12. The school year lasts until May 28.
The full calendar is available online at westosoisd.net. It includes a fall intersession Oct. 13-17.
Flour Bluff ISD’s school year lasts from Aug. 13 until May 28. The calendar is available at flourbluffschools.net.
Calallen ISD returns Aug. 13. The school year lasts until May 29, though seniors will finish on May 21. The Calallen calendar is available online at calallen.org.
Other school districts have already gotten back to the classroom, like London Independent School District, which returned July 23, and Tuloso-Midway Independent School District, which started on July 16.
Tuloso-Midway ISD’s calendar is available online at tmisd.us. The school year lasts until May 21.
Tuloso-Midway ISD’s extended school year calendar includes several intersessions scheduled for Sept. 2-5, Oct. 27-31, Feb. 23-27 and March 30-April 2.
London ISD’s school year lasts until May 22, which is an early release day.
The calendar includes intersessions scheduled for Oct. 20-24, Feb. 16-20 and March 30-April 3.
How to attend back-to-school resource events: Get backpacks, haircuts, immunizations, sports physicals and more
LEAD First is hosting its annual Happy Health back-to-school fair from 9 a.m. to noon on July 26 at Miller High School. The event is open to students of any age from any school.
The fair will offer backpacks and school supplies while supplies last, health screenings, food bags donated by the Coastal Bend Food Bank, sports physicals, hearing and vision tests, diabetes tests, blood pressure checks, fatty liver tissue screenings and immunizations, as well as information about health services.
Nueces County’s Operation Health and Wellness is ongoing. The free event began July 21 and will continue through July 26.
The event runs 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 26. Veterinary services are available at the Johnny S. Calderon Nueces County Center from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 24-26.
The initiative offers the following health services at Mission of Mercy, West Oso Junior High School and the Calderon Nueces County Center:
Mission of Mercy: optometry and dental services.
West Oso Junior High School: general medical, immunizations, diabetes screening, behavioral health, back-to-school physicals, women’s exams and pharmacy.
Calderon Nueces County Center: immunizations, general medical, diabetes screening, behavioral health, back-to-school physicals, women’s exams, pharmacy and veterinary services.
The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Coastal Bend is hosting a Back to School Bash from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 26 at 3902 Greenwood Drive. The event features school supplies, free and low-cost eye exams and glasses, free haircuts, free sports physicals, limited free clothing and shoes, food, drinks and games.
Operation Safe Return, hosted by the Corpus Christi Police Department, will provide 4,000 backpacks, school supplies, food bags, health tests and screenings, immunizations, sports physicals and safety information from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 2 at the American Bank Center.
For immunizations, a parent or legal guardian must be present with a valid ID. Families should bring the child’s immunization record and proof of health insurance.
The event is designed for students of any age from any school. Students need to come with a parent or legal guardian to receive featured items.
What to know about school cell phone bans
This spring, Texas lawmakers approved legislation banning student cell phone use in public schools.
The new law directs school boards to ensure schools comply with a written policy prohibiting students from using personal communication devices while on school property during the school day. This includes personal cell phones, smartwatches, pagers, radios and tablets.
Students are still allowed to use electronic devices provided by their school.
The law allows schools to either prohibit students from bringing cell phones to school or designate a method for storing cell phones while students are at school.
Exceptions include if a student has a documented need based on the directive of a qualified physician or if a device is needed to comply with individualized education program plans for students with disabilities. Adult education programs are also excluded.
Corpus Christi ISD announced in mid-July that district officials are studying the legislation, and the school board is expected to adopt a new policy on July 28.
The district previously limited cell phone use last year, requiring middle and elementary students to keep devices turned off during the school day and allowing high school students to only use devices between classes and during lunch.
“We had overwhelmingly positive feedback regarding our updated cellphone rules for the 2024-2025 school year,” Superintendent Roland Hernandez said in a news release. “While we understand the new legislation may necessitate further habit changes by our students and families, we appreciate the Legislature’s desire to support schools in keeping the school day a focused learning environment.”
Other area school districts are having similar discussions.
This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Back to school: What to know about calendars, resources and new rules in Corpus Christi
Reporting by Olivia Garrett, Corpus Christi Caller Times / Corpus Christi Caller Times
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