Whether you’re packing a first-day backpack or planning around the next school holiday, this guide brings the Buda school basics into one place: key dates for the 2026-27 year, bell times, supply lists and the public, charter and private options families in Buda use.
Dates and details can change, so check with your school or district before you make plans around them.
Important Back-to-School Dates
- First day of school (Hays CISD): Thursday, August 13, 2026
- Thanksgiving break: November 23–27, 2026
- Winter break: December 21, 2026 – January 1, 2027, with student holidays on December 18 and January 4–5
- Spring break: March 15–19, 2027
- Last day of school: Thursday, May 27, 2027
Confirm early-release days and student holidays on the official Hays CISD academic calendar.
Public Schools
Hays Consolidated Independent School District
Most Buda students attend Hays CISD, a fast-growing district of 28 campuses headquartered in Kyle. Your home address decides your zoned elementary, middle and high school, so start with the district’s interactive attendance-zone map.
New elementary and middle school attendance zones took effect this school year to ease crowding at several campuses, so check the map even if you’ve looked before.
Bell Times
- Elementary schools: 7:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
- Middle schools: 8:10 a.m. – 3:45 p.m. (2:00 p.m. on early-release days)
- High schools: 8:55 a.m. – 4:25 p.m. (1:00 p.m. on early-release days)
Elementary schools do not have early-release days.
High Schools
Hays High School (4800 Jack C. Hays Trail) and Johnson High School (4260 FM 967) are both in Buda, and Live Oak Academy, the district’s accelerated high school of choice for grades 10–12, is also on Jack C. Hays Trail. Lehman High School is in Kyle; the zone map shows which school serves your address.
A fourth comprehensive high school is under construction in the northeast part of the district, east of Sunfield, with an extension of Buda’s Main Street planned to reach the campus. It is being built for 2,800 students.
Hays CISD Calendar
The full calendar, adopted by the Board of Trustees, is on the district’s When & Where page, along with bell schedules and attendance zones. The district’s Back to School 2026-2027 page has the year’s updates.
Hays CISD School-Supply Lists
Hays CISD uses standard, grade-level supply lists for elementary school, and the district says parents are only expected to buy what’s on that list. Some campuses or PTAs offer prepackaged kits, and a few items may need replacing mid-year. Middle and high school teachers share their own class lists, so send students with basics like pencils, pens and paper on day one.
Charter Schools
Doral Academy of Texas
Doral Academy of Texas is a STEM-focused charter school for PK4 through 9th grade at 1333 Fire Cracker Drive in Buda. Its 2026-27 calendar and enrollment details are on the school’s website.
Charter schools nearby in Kyle
IDEA Kyle (640 Philomena Drive) and Valor Kyle, a tuition-free classical K-12 school at 2355 Windy Hill Road, are a short drive south.
Charter schools set their own calendars, so check with each school for its important dates.
Private and Independent Schools
Ladybird Montessori School
Ladybird Montessori is a private Montessori school on 14.5 acres at 2050 Cole Springs Road, serving children from birth through ninth grade. Learn more at budamontessori.com.
Homeschool Programs
Homeschooling in Buda? Our Homeschool Guide covers co-ops, classes, library resources and activities for homeschool families.
Did We Miss Something?
If your school, PTA or program has dates or details families should know, send them our way.