Dallas ISD has made great strides in student achievement, and during its regular meeting in January, the Board of Trustees gave the district another tool to make sure that students are getting all the support they need to succeed when it approved the Additional Days School Year.
Thanks to this new calendar, the district is adding a few days for 13 elementary schools and for sixth graders in seven middle schools so students can get that extra support and spend time exploring activities that will enrich their school experience.
These extra days will enhance students’ academic, social and emotional growth when they are added in the 2026-2027 school year.
The extra days of learning and fun are known as ADSY, and they will take place before the official start of the school year and on select Saturdays. Because sometimes students forget some of what they learned during the long summer break, this early start to the school year and the Saturday school will help them regain any skills they may have forgotten and get the support they need to be their best selves.
How ADSY works in elementary school
Students at John Q Adams, Lee McShan Jr, Lida Hooe, John Neely Bryan, J.N. Ervin, José “Joe” May, Julian T. Saldivar, Harrell Budd, Birdie Alexander, Frank Guzick, and Ronald E. McNair elementary schools; H.S. Thompson STEAM Academy; and Marcus Leadership Academy will start the school year on July 28. They will come to school an additional 10 days in the summer right before school starts for everyone else and also have five Saturday school days spread out through the year.
Students will engage in activities that foster teamwork and spend their days honing their reading and math but also working together to create a sense of belonging among their peers and in the school. And they will also have time for fun activities that will connect them with school and keep them coming back. Saturday school will be extra fun with exciting themes for each one: Gaming; Superheros; Lights, Camera, Action; Under the Sea; and Sports Spectacular.
Just like during the regular school year, your child will receive school meals during the additional days, and those who are eligible will receive transportation. After-school programs also will be available.
Fast facts
- Grades: All grades
- Start of school: July 28
- Total number of additional days: 15 (including 5 Saturday School sessions)
How ADSY works in middle school
Sixth graders at T.W. Browne, Hector P. Garcia, Sam Tasby, Harold Wendell Lang Sr., and Boude Storey middle schools; Royce West Leadership Academy; and Young Men’s Leadership Academy at Fred F. Florence will start school on July 28, 10 days before the students in seventh and eighth grade start.
Sixth graders will also attend five Saturday school days that will help reinforce what they have been learning and have fun through enrichment opportunities developed around exciting themes for each Saturday: Gaming; Superheros; Lights, Camera, Action; Under the Sea; and Sports Spectacular.
During the additional days, sixth graders will have 180 minutes of instruction in reading and math, 150 minutes of enrichment, and 90 minutes of house huddles and/or club activities.
Just like during the regular school year, your child will receive school meals during the additional days, and those who are eligible will receive transportation. After-school programs also will be available.
Fast facts
- Grades: Sixth grade
- Start of school: July 28
- Total number of additional days: 15 (including 5 Saturday School sessions)
