The new school year is fast approaching across the Texas Panhandle. Public school districts and area colleges have finalized start dates for the 2025–2026 academic year, helping families prepare for the return to class.
The Region 16 Education Service Center — which spans 26 counties and serves nearly 82,000 K-12 students across more than 60 independent school districts — has released updated scheduling information. Below is a complete list of confirmed start dates for Panhandle public schools and colleges, along with reminders and planning tips. Some schools start as early as Aug. 7, while others begin their school year Aug. 20.
Public school district start dates
Districts are listed alphabetically with their corresponding counties and confirmed first day of school:
Adrian ISD (Moore): Aug. 13
Amarillo ISD (Potter, Randall): Aug. 14
Booker ISD (Lipscomb, Ochiltree): Aug. 14
Borger ISD (Hutchinson): Aug. 14
Bovina ISD (Parmer): Aug. 7
Boys Ranch ISD (Oldham): Aug. 13
Bushland ISD (Potter): Aug. 11
Canadian ISD (Hemphill): Aug. 20
Canyon ISD (Randall): Aug. 13
Channing ISD (Hartley): Aug. 7
Chillicothe ISD (Hardeman): Aug. 14
Childress ISD (Childress): Aug. 14
Clarendon ISD (Donley): Aug. 13
Claude ISD (Armstrong): Aug. 14
Dalhart ISD (Dallam, Hartley): Aug. 13
Darrouzett ISD (Lipscomb): Aug. 7
Dimmitt ISD (Castro): Aug. 12
Dumas ISD (Moore): Aug. 13
Farwell ISD (Parmer): Aug. 13
Follett ISD (Lipscomb): Aug. 13
Fort Elliott CISD (Wheeler): Aug. 13
Friona ISD (Parmer): Aug. 13
Grandview-Hopkins ISD (Gray): Aug. 14
Groom ISD (Carson): Aug. 13
Gruver ISD (Hansford): Aug. 14
Happy ISD (Swisher, Randall): Aug. 11
Hart ISD (Castro): Aug. 11
Hartley ISD (Hartley): Aug. 13
Hedley ISD (Donley): Aug. 12
Hereford ISD (Deaf Smith): Aug. 13
Highland Park ISD (Potter): Aug. 20
Kelton ISD (Wheeler): Aug. 11
Kress ISD (Swisher): Aug. 11
Lazbuddie ISD (Parmer): Aug. 7
Lefors ISD (Gray): Aug. 13
McLean ISD (Gray): Aug. 7
Memphis ISD (Hall): Aug. 12
Miami ISD (Roberts): Aug. 12
Nazareth ISD (Castro): Aug. 13
Pampa ISD (Gray): Aug. 19
Panhandle ISD (Carson): Aug. 13
Paducah ISD (Cottle): Aug. 13
Perryton ISD (Ochiltree): Aug. 13
Plemons-Stinnett-Phillips CISD (Hutchinson): Aug. 13
Pringle-Morse CISD (Moore): Aug. 13
Quanah ISD (Hardeman): Aug. 7
River Road ISD (Potter): Aug. 14
Sanford-Fritch ISD (Hutchinson): Aug. 18
Shamrock ISD (Wheeler): Aug. 11
Silverton ISD (Briscoe): Aug. 11
Spearman ISD (Hansford): Aug. 13
Springlake-Earth ISD (Lamb): Aug. 13
Stratford ISD (Sherman): Aug. 13
Sunray ISD (Moore): Aug. 13
Texhoma ISD (Sherman): Aug. 14
Texline ISD (Dallam): Aug. 11
Tulia ISD (Swisher): Aug. 13
Turkey-Quitaque ISD (Hall): Aug. 13
Vega ISD (Oldham): Aug. 12
Walcott ISD (Deaf Smith): Aug. 13
Wellington ISD (Collingsworth): Aug. 13
Wheeler ISD (Wheeler): Aug. 20
White Deer ISD (Carson): Aug. 13
Wildorado ISD (Oldham): Aug. 14
College and university start dates
Several higher education institutions across the Panhandle begin classes later in August:
Texas Tech University (Amarillo, Lubbock): Aug. 25
West Texas A&M University (Canyon): Aug. 25
Amarillo College (Amarillo and area campuses): Aug. 25
Clarendon College (Clarendon and Pampa campuses): Aug. 25
Frank Phillips College (Borger): Aug. 20
Wayland Baptist University, Amarillo campus: Aug. 11
Back-to-school events
Districts, including Amarillo ISD, are planning open houses, meet-the-teacher nights, and backpack giveaways in coordination with local partners. Event details will be posted on individual district websites and social media pages in early August.
School supply lists
Parents and guardians are encouraged to check with their child’s school or district website for updated school supply lists. While some elementary schools provide starter kits, others ask families to bring items such as folders, notebooks, pens, headphones, and calculators.
Community organizations and churches often host supply drives or donation events. These are typically announced through district newsletters or posted to local calendars.
Planning resources
To stay on track this school year, confirm your district’s start date and review back-to-school requirements such as enrollment forms, immunizations and orientation events. Area colleges may also offer student welcome sessions, financial aid briefings, and move-in details for on-campus housing.
For regional education updates and support tools, visit the Region 16 Education Service Center website at esc16.net.
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: When does school start in Texas Panhandle? ISDs and college calendar
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