Just over 2 months ago, school was out for the Summer, and just like that…we’re back! I hope you find something useful from this compilation of back to school related events and offers.
🗒️ Please note, this list will continue to be updated.
In our household a new school year entails switching from daycare to actual public school and I’m in the process of completing the first official school registration and purchasing supplies for the very first time! Wherever you are in this part of parenting and gearing up for the new school year, I hope you will find something in here to help.
So get ready, families of Downtown Houston! The countdown has begun, and the first day of school for your little ones in Houston is literally around the corner.
Houston Independent School District (HISD) will return on Monday Aug 12, 2024
✏️ HISD 2024-2025 Academic Calendar
💡 Did you know HISD is ranked as the 7th largest in the US with 288 schools?
🚌 ONE BIG CHANGE that will go into affect this school year has to do with HISD bus route changes.
Houston ISD officials unveiled plans on July 22 to modify bus routes for the upcoming 2024-25 school year, starting August 12. These changes aim to reduce expenses and shorten students' travel times. The new routes will impact approximately 3,000 students participating in the district's school choice program.
Key points:
- The alterations only affect students in the school choice program.
- Students attending zoned schools and those in HISD special education programs—comprising about two-thirds of bus riders—will not experience any changes to their transportation arrangements.
Bus stops for the 3,000 students in school choice programs will now be located up to three miles from their homes, an increase from last year's two-mile maximum distance.
✏️ Another big impact that will affect this new school year is HISD is down 748 teachers in comparison to last year.
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Back-to-School Events, Freebies and Resources in Houston
There's a ton of events and giveaways happening throughout the city, too many to list in fact. Here's a condensed highlight:
📆 Now - Aug 15 (Thursdays)
FREE VACCINATION EVENT
🕐 5-7pm
🎟️ FREE for qualifying families
Pre-Registration required
📍Children’s Museum of Houston - 1500 Binz St
Committed to creating a community of healthy children, Texas Children's Mobile Clinic Program, in partnership with Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Houston/Galveston, will administer free vaccinations to children 6 weeks to 18 years of age who qualify for the Texas Vaccines for Children Program.
📆 Now - Aug 18
BACK TO SCHOOL GIVEAWAY
📍Online
Memorial City has giveaway you can enter until Aug 18th for a $2,500 Back to school shopping spree! INFO
📆 Saturday Aug 3
MAYOR'S BACK 2 SCHOOL FEST
🕐 8am-2pm
🎟️ FREE
📍George R. Brown Convention Center - 1001 Avenida de las Americas
The 14th annual Mayor’s Back to School Fest Presented by Shell is designed to help economically disadvantaged Houston-area elementary school students and their families as they prepare to return to school. In addition to distributing 25,000 backpacks with school supplies, the event will feature on-site health screenings to include: dental screenings and sealants, vision screenings, and routine immunizations. The event also connects families to a wide range of health and social services offered by community agencies.
📆 Saturday Aug 3
BACK TO SCHOOL BIRTH CERTIFICATE EVENT
🕐 9am-1pm
🎟️ FREE for first 100 people
📍Chimney Rock Annex - 6000 Chimney Rock Road
The Harris County Clerk's Office is holding its fourth annual event to help families acquire birth certificates required for school enrollment. The first 100 attendees will receive one free birth certificate. Additional certificates will be available for purchase at $23 each. There will be backpacks, school supplies and more being given.
📆 Saturday Aug 3
ENVIRONMENTAL AND CLIMATE BACK TO SCHOOL BASH (EAST END)
🕐 11am-1pm
🎟️ FREE
📍4414 Navigation Blvd in East End
Get ready for a day of fun, shopping, and supporting local vendors. Bring the whole family for a great time!
📆 Friday Aug 9
BACK TO SCHOOL HEALTH FAIR - TEXAS CHILDREN'S HEALTH
🕐 5-8pm
🎟️ FREE
📍 Matias Almeyda Training Facility - 4211 Clow Rd
Healthy Hub Stations offering Well-Child Checkups, dental, vision, blood pressure monitoring and glucose checks for children and adults, Baby Depot Area with resources on well child, pregnancy checkups and diapers for babies present, Free backpacks and school supplies for children present at the event, information on how to renew and/or apply for CHIP/Medicaid, Family fun, face painting, giveaways, rides, characters, community resources and much more!
📆 Saturday Aug 10
BACK TO SCHOOL PRIDE FESTIVAL
🕐 11am-3pm
🎟️ FREE
📍 Tony's Place Houston - 1429 Hawthorne
This LGBTQ+ focused event will have local vendors, community partners offering resources, entertainment, food trucks, games and crafts!
📆 Wednesday Aug 21
BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED BACK TO SCHOOL RESOURCE FAIR
🕐 5:30-8pm
🎟️ FREE
📍 The Lighthouse of Houston - 3602 West Dallas
There will be free adaptive school supplies and backpacks, raffle prizes and lunch. Learn about adaptive aids, technology, computer skills, independent living skills, job readiness skills, build confidence, self-advocacy skills and much more.
An extended list of supply drives and giveaways can be found HERE thanks to the Houston Independent School District Blog.
❓ Know of a community back-to-school event in Houston we're missing? Add it to our Macaroni KID Houston calendar HERE!
CHECK OUT THIS BACK TO SCHOOL LIST FOR PARENTS/CAREGIVERS!
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Back-to-School Shopping in Houston
Let’s be savvy this school year! Interested in saving some money on supplies? We’ll begin with an important date, The Texas Sales Tax Holiday. It’s already on our event calendar and you can easily save it right to your phone (along with all events) from Macaroni KID.
Texas will host its yearly sales tax holiday from August 9 to 11, 2024. During this period, shoppers can buy specific back-to-school items without paying sales tax. Eligible products priced under $100 include most clothing, footwear, school supplies, and backpacks. These items can be bought at physical stores in Texas or from online and catalog retailers operating within the state.
❗ There has been a 25% increase specifically on school supplies compared to 4 years ago
📆 Friday Aug 9
CELEBRATE THE START OF TAX FREE WEEKEND
🕐 2-5pm
📍 Memorial City Mall - 303 Memorial City Way
Visit the Memorial City table near Zara to celebrate the start of Tax Free Weekend.
Ready, Set, School! Get ready to rock the school year with the latest trends and supplies from Memorial City and a chance to win shopping gift cards and more to get you ready for back-to-school.
*Don’t forget August 9 – 11 is your chance to shop Tax-Free at Memorial City!
📆 Friday Aug 9 - Sunday Aug 11
BACK-TO-SCHOOL CELEBRATION AT HOUSTON PREMIUM OUTLETS
🕐 Noon-3pm
📍Houston Premium Outlets 29300 Hempstead Road, Cypress (Center Court, near Food Court)
Shoppers can celebrate the start of the school year with family-friendly activities, entertainment, and special offers from retailers. Enjoy live music, caricatures, and take photos with the selfie station.
*Shop with Houston Premium Outlets on Saturday, August 10th and personalize a hat with Patch Collection. Spend $200 or more from one or more Houston Premium Outlets stores and present your SAME DAY receipts to the team in center court to claim your free hat.
📆 Saturday Aug 10th
TEXAS THRIFT - 50% OFF
📍9750 Fondren Rd
Save 50% off storewide! Whether you're a student gearing up for the new school year or a parent looking to get the best deals on everything your kids need, we've got you covered with half off your purchase!
📆 Saturday Aug 10th
TANGER HOUSTON BACK-TO-SCHOOL BASH
🕐 Noon-2pm
🎟️ FREE
📍Tanger Outlets Houston - 5885 Gulf Fwy, Texas City, TX
Families are invited to celebrate the start of the school season with savings. Our DJ will entertain the crowd with the hottest music hits while you enjoy lawn games, food trucks, face painting, caricature artists, giveaways and special photo moments with friends & family; Plus, cheer on your favorite school as the Santa Fe High School Marching Band shows off their school spirit with a special performance.
❓Have a favorite local spot for back-to-school shopping you don't see listed here? Email here, and we'll get it added!
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Back-to-School Haircuts in Houston
It's hard to find a good stylist all around. But this compilation of salons dedicated to kids cuts with great reputations are places that make it fun for their little clients. If you're in need of a new place or want to try somewhere you have not yet tried, give these a look.
📍6100 Westheimer, Suite 138A
Houston's top kids' boutique and salon. Exceptional clothing for boys and girls, plus expert children's hairstyling. Our stylish salon features video games, toys, and activities to keep your little ones entertained.
Call for appointment
Haircuts starting at $26
📍112357 Kingsride Lane
Transform your child's haircut into an exciting experience at this unique salon, offering: Expert stylists skilled in working with children, clean, sanitized environment, entertainment galore - gaming stations, fun cars, and videos, wash, cut, and blow-dry with service and bonus treats like mini-manicures, lollipops, and balloons.
Appointments highly encouraged
Haircuts starting at $27 for Boys/$30 for Girls
📍2522 Rice Boulevard
At Snip-its they're all about kids, haircut adventures, and fun. Get ready for good hair days and lots of smiles. First time clients save $7, click the coupon or mention CODE: WEB700 in the salon.
Appointments highly encouraged
Haircuts starting at $28
* BONUS: There is a FAMILY ADVENTURE SWEEPSTAKES currently happening through Aug 16th. Snip-its wants to send your family to Universal Orlando Resort, ENTER FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN HERE *
❓Have a favorite independent stylist that you'd like to see on this list? Are they great with kids haircuts or offer specialties? Email here, and we'll get them added!
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Back-to-School Notes
As a new school mom, I didn’t know a lot of the tips and tricks to make things a little more streamlined. Sharing some random notes I gathered in my online scrolling. Efficiency is the key to our success as parents and there are a plethora of tools to help us achieve that. Without getting overwhelmed, here's a few super simple tips to consider:
- Empower your children to take charge of their morning routine. Teach them to prepare their backpacks, choose and put on their clothes, eat breakfast, and even make their own lunches if they're of age to do so. This not only lightens your load but also teaches independence and responsibility and self-sufficiency to your kids.
- On the topic of school lunches, and what to pack, click here for Macaroni Kid’s picks!
- Walmart has a nifty tool to let you search your school list on their website and directly add items to your shopping cart. Checkout, pickup, VOILA!
- Check out these recommended apps:
MyStudyLife is a student planner helps track all your classes, tasks, assignments, and exams on any device.
Study Bunny A motivational timer to boost focus during exams. Includes to-do lists, flashcards, and additional features to enhance your study sessions.Be Focused implements the Pomodoro method, alternating between concentrated work periods and brief rest intervals to enhance study efficiency. - Follow your local and child’s school on all socials or the school district's best online resource for the most up-to-date information (websites tend to not be updated as much). You might be surprised at how much they communicate there first.
❤️ Here's to a great school year ahead!
⭐️ THE DOWNTOWN HOUSTON EDITION OF MACARONI KID IS PROUDLY PUBLISHED BY A LOCAL MOM WHO WORKS INDEPENDENTLY AND CURATES WEEKLY LOCAL FAMILY EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES, SEARCHING FOR FAMILY FUN, FAMILY-FOCUSED BUSINESSES AND ANY ADVENTURES AROUND THE CITY! OUR NEWSLETTERS AND CONTENT WILL CONTINUE TO IMPROVE AND YOUR FEEDBACK IS WELCOME. IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY SUBSCRIBED, PLEASE CONSIDER SUPPORTING THIS MACARONI MOM AND SUBSCRIBE TODAY ⭐
