The Dripping Springs Back-to-School Guide: Everything DSISD Families Need Before August 12
Summer's final stretch is here: Dripping Springs ISD students head back to class on Wednesday, August 12 — and the two weeks before that are packed with deadlines, shopping windows, and details worth getting ahead of. Here's your one-stop checklist.
The Key Dates
Friday–Sunday, Aug. 7–9 — Texas Sales Tax Holiday (more below)
Wednesday, Aug. 12 — First day of school for DSISD
School hours: Elementary runs 7:40 a.m.–3:05 p.m.; middle and high school run 8:50 a.m.–4:15 p.m.
Campus-specific events like Meet the Teacher typically land in the final days before school starts — exact times are posted per campus, so check yours at the DSISD events calendar as August 12 approaches.
🔗 DSISD 2026–27 Academic Calendar
Tax-Free Weekend: August 7–9
Texas's annual sales tax holiday runs Friday, Aug. 7 through midnight Sunday, Aug. 9 — timed almost perfectly for DSISD families, with the first day of school the following Wednesday.
What qualifies: most clothing, footwear, school supplies, and backpacks priced under $100 per item are exempt from state and local sales tax — roughly $8 saved per $100 spent.
A few things worth knowing:
The $100 limit applies per item, not per receipt — two $80 pairs of shoes both qualify even though the total is $160.
Online purchases count too, as long as the order is placed and paid for during the holiday window.
Computers, electronics, and specialized athletic gear (cleats, pads) do not qualify.
One heads-up: with only one tax-free weekend before the first day, stores get busy — shopping Friday morning or online beats braving Sunday afternoon crowds.
🔗 Full qualifying items list — Texas Comptroller
Paperwork: Don't Skip Annual Verification
Two administrative items every DSISD family should have squared away before the 12th:
Annual Verification — required by state law every year for every enrolled student, not just new ones. If you haven't completed it in Family Access yet, do it now to avoid first-week friction.
New Student Registration — still open for families new to the district: dsisdtx.us/registration. The Pre-K program has its own process at dsisdtx.us/pk.
And if you live outside district boundaries: DSISD began accepting out-of-district transfer applications this year for K–6 students residing in Texas — a meaningful change for families just across the line who've been hoping to enroll.
New Faces on Campus
Two schools start the year with new leadership:
Rudy Gonzalez takes over as principal at Dripping Springs Middle School, approved unanimously by the Board of Trustees.
Dr. Leanna Pesta steps in as principal at Walnut Springs Elementary, also by unanimous board vote.
If your student attends either campus, expect welcome communications introducing the new principals as the year kicks off.
Beat the First-Week Chaos: Local Tips
Do a practice run. School-zone traffic on RR 12 and Hwy. 290 changes character overnight on August 12 — if you're new to the district, drive your route at drop-off time the week before.
Watch for construction. With DSISD's second high school under construction off Darden Hill Road (near Cypress Springs Elementary), expect occasional construction traffic in that corridor — build in a buffer if that's your route.
Use the Library on Wheels. The Dripping Springs Community Library's new bookmobile is making stops across the area this summer — a great last-hurrah option for summer reading before routines take over. Schedule at dscl.org.
Stock up local. Plenty of Dripping Springs businesses carry backpack-stuffers, lunch gear, and first-day-outfit options — tax-free weekend is a great excuse to shop them first.
The Bottom Line
Two weekends stand between now and the first bell. Knock out Annual Verification this week, shop tax-free August 7–9, confirm your campus's Meet the Teacher time, and August 12 will feel a lot less like a scramble.
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