ATX-RRK: Impact 8/13/2026

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Round Rock ISD’s first day of school is Aug. 19, plus other dates to know

Round Rock ISD will welcome more than 45,000 students for the first day of the 2026-27 school year Aug. 19.

What to expect: Several campus improvement projects funded by the 2024 bond are underway in the district, including renovations to several of the district’s 55 schools.

Some campuses, such as Grisham Middle School, will see the first phase of renovations completed before the start of school.

Looking ahead: Here are some other important dates for RRISD students and families:

Sept. 7: first student holiday
Nov. 23-27: Thanksgiving break
Dec. 18: winter break starts
Jan. 5: spring semester starts
May 27: last day of school

See more details.

In Your Area

Tutoring Club of Round Rock now open

A locally owned tutoring business opened in Round Rock in August.

About the business: The center provides individualized programs based on each student’s needs and goals. It offers tutoring in math, reading and writing as well as assistance with homework, developing study skills, and prepping for high school and tests.

Curriculum is designed to strengthen foundational learning, build confidence and work toward long-term goals, according to the business.

The Round Rock Tutoring Club franchise is owned by Anusha Kanteti, and will hold an opening celebration with games, prizes and giveaways Aug. 14-15.

1500 S. A.W. Grimes Blvd., Ste. 165, Round Rock

Read here.

Your Weekend To-Do List

Check out these weekend events across the metro area.

Ice Age Night

Vintage Market Days

Aug. 14, 6:30-8 p.m.
Austin

Aug. 14-15, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Round Rock

More info

Austin Steam Train Wild West Rider

Woodsminster Kennel Club Dog Show

Aug. 15, 9 a.m.
Cedar Park

Aug. 15, 7 p.m.
Austin

More info

To submit your own event, click here.

News Near You

Dell Children's celebrates first stem cell transplant patient's cancer-free milestone

Five-year-old Avry Jo Schapansky rang the bell at Dell Children's Blood and Cancer Center on Aug. 7, celebrating the end of her cancer treatment and marking her as the first patient in Central Texas to complete a stem cell transplant through the hospital's new program.

Why it matters: Before Dell Children's launched the program in August 2025, families needing this level of care had to travel outside Central Texas, often for a month or longer, to hospitals in Houston, Dallas or San Antonio.
Schapansky, diagnosed with high-risk Stage 4 neuroblastoma, underwent a roughly year-and-a-half treatment plan that included chemotherapy, surgery, tandem stem cell transplants and radiation.

Dr. Shannon Cohn, her pediatric oncologist, said the family's decision to stay reflected trust in a brand-new transplant team.

The program was made possible in part through a gift from the Shivers Cancer Foundation, which helped recruit Dr. Amir Mian to lead it, along with a partnership with nonprofit blood center We Are Blood. Dell Children's is now working toward offering CAR T-cell therapy and gene therapy in 2026.

CI Texas

Texas senators consider how to better prepare communities for wildfires

From 2020-25, more than 45,000 wildfires burned over 2.7 million acres of Texas land, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.

Ahead of the 2027 state legislative session, lawmakers are looking into ways to better prevent wildfires from happening and prepare communities to respond when fires do start.

The background: In 2025, state lawmakers passed Senate Bill 34, which required the Texas A&M Forest Service to create a statewide database of firefighting equipment; established a council to improve emergency communications between local, state and federal agencies; and increased funding to help rural volunteer fire departments purchase equipment from $30 million to $40 million.

Quote of note: Sen. Kevin Sparks, a Midland Republican who authored the law, said more work needs to be done to increase wildfire preparedness across the state.

"As we move forward, our focus should be on a more proactive approach that prioritizes prevention and mitigation alongside response preparedness," Sparks said during an Aug. 11 hearing of the Senate Natural Resources Committee, which he chairs.

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Your local team

Claire Shoop
Editor

Amy Leonard Bryant
General Manager

Email [email protected] for story ideas, tips or questions.

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