More than 20,000 Allen ISD students returned to 21 campuses Thursday, Aug. 13, kicking off a school year that will run through May 27, 2027.

At Norton Elementary, teachers lined up to greet families before the 7:45 a.m. bell. The kindergarten-through-sixth-grade campus was among the district's 16 elementary schools opening their doors first, more than an hour before Allen High School students started class at 8:50 a.m.

"Everybody is happy and smiling," Norton Elementary Principal Renee Nelson told Community Impact. "We love having students back on campus. It's why we're here."

The staggered bell schedule means families with children at different campus levels are juggling multiple drop-off times. Elementary schools run 7:45 a.m. to 2:55 p.m., middle schools 8:20 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., the Lowery Freshman Center 8:45 a.m. to 4:05 p.m. and Allen High School 8:50 a.m. to 4:10 p.m.

That's four different start times across the district.

Allen ISD trustees chose a Thursday start date after surveying families who favored a midweek start, according to the board-approved academic calendar. The board adopted the calendar at its Oct. 27, 2025, meeting.

At the district's Aug. 7 Convocation ceremony at Allen High School, Acting Superintendent Kim McLaughlin told staff that when students walk through the doors, they see a school ready to welcome them but may not see "the thousands of people who worked together to make that possible."

The district is operating on a $226 million general fund budget adopted June 15, with administrators monitoring declining enrollment that has produced a projected $5.3 million shortfall between revenues and expenses.

As we reported July 28, the full academic calendar includes several breaks families should bookmark:

• Fall break: Oct. 12-16
• Thanksgiving break: Nov. 23-27
• Winter break: Dec. 21-Jan. 4, 2027
• Spring break: March 15-19, 2027
• Last day of school: May 27, 2027

Allen High School's graduation is set for Friday, May 28, 2027, the day after the last day of school.