• Maximize time for instruction and provide ample instructional days prior to local/state assessments
• Adhere to state-required minimum of 75,600 instructional minutes in a school year 
• Provide staff days used as professional development or teacher work days
• Provide early release day(s) for teacher-specific planning or professional learning
• Account for bad weather by banking additional time (minimum 2-3 days)
• Match Grayson College common Spring Break
• Traditionally observe Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas/New Year’s, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, President’s Day and Memorial Day, with President’s Day for staff development

• 170 Instructional Days – 83 in the first semester and 87 in the second semester 
• 76,590 Total Minutes
• Provides 2 “banked days” if needed for inclement weather
• Maintains 187-day workday calendar for teachers and aides 
• Graduation prior to Memorial Day

Sherman ISD has traditionally maintained a common Spring Break with Grayson College due to the number of students enrolled in dual credit classes. In the 2025-26 school year, Spring Break will move to the third week of March rather than the second week in order to maintain alignment with Grayson College. Additionally, a staff professional development day held after Spring Break in the 2024-25 school year will move to before Spring Break in the 2025-26 school year in order to provide sufficient instructional time after Spring Break prior to the start of state testing.

The 4th nine weeks begins on March 9, 2026 rather than March 23, 2026 in order to balance the number of dedicated instructional days in each nine-week grading period. Because the 4th nine weeks contains state-required STAAR testing and two early release days, it typically contains more school days than the 3rd nine weeks in order to provide a similar number of dedicated school days for instruction.

SISD strives to best meet the needs of students and staff and will continue to evaluate the strategic placement of student and staff holidays, professional development/teacher work days and exchange days in order to maximize instruction, provide timely opportunities for staff learning and planning, and allow for meaningful breaks for families and staff throughout the year.

Sherman ISD typically releases students early on the two days prior to Winter Break in December as well as the last two days of school in May. This coincides with final exams at Sherman High School. SISD observes early release at all levels on these days in order to provide consistency for families and staff with students at multiple levels, as well as give teachers at all levels the same opportunities for grading, planning and work in their classrooms at the end of each semester.

Moving to a four-day school week is a significant decision that would not be undertaken in Sherman ISD without considerable discussion and engagement with families, staff, and the community. At this time, the district believes it is in the best interest of students and families to maintain a traditional five-day school week. A four-day schedule would require longer school days, which could make it harder for students to stay engaged in learning and meet their academic needs. Additionally, many SISD families rely on school-provided meals and the consistency of a five-day schedule for childcare. For these reasons, Sherman ISD has continued to maintain a traditional schedule.