To be promoted to the next grade level, Houston ISD students must meet state-mandated academic expectations. These Promotion Standards typically include passing classroom grades, demonstrating proficiency on local or state assessments (STAAR, MAP), and fulfilling any program-specific requirements. Final promotion decisions are reviewed and approved by campus administration at year-end.

Under Texas’ No Pass / No Play law, first-six-weeks eligibility is based on last year’s final grades. Afterward, any grade below 70 in an academic class renders a student ineligible for three school weeks—students may practice but not compete or perform publicly.

Cycle	Dates	Days	Report Card Date
Cycle I	Aug 12–Sept 19	27	Sept 26 (Fri)
Cycle II	Sept 22–Oct 31	28	Nov 10 (Mon)
Cycle III	Nov 3–Dec 19	29	Jan 9 (Fri)
Cycle IV	Jan 6–Feb 20	31	Feb 27 (Fri)
Cycle V	Feb 23–Apr 17	33	Apr 24 (Fri)
Cycle VI	Apr 20–June 4	33	June 4 (Thu) [K–8] June 12 (Fri) [HS]

According to HISD guidelines, academic dishonesty includes cheating or copying another student’s work; plagiarism (using someone else’s words or ideas without citation); fabrication of data; and unauthorized collaboration during assessments.

Confirmed incidents result in grade penalties (e.g., zero on the assignment) and disciplinary referrals. Serious or repeated offenses escalate to a Level II administrative hearing for further consequences.

Definition: Any assignment not turned in by the teacher-specified deadline on its due date.

Elementary (Grades 2–5): 10% maximum deduction. Must submit within six school days. Assignments due in the last two weeks of a cycle must be turned in by the Friday before cycle ends or receive a zero.

All missing assignments will be recorded in PowerSchool; unsubmitted work by deadline earns a zero.

K–1 has no late penalty.

Middle School (Grades 6–8): Submission by the third class meeting after due date; 10% maximum deduction. Assignments due in the last two weeks of a cycle must be turned in by the Friday before cycle ends or receive a zero. 

All missing assignments will be recorded in PowerSchool; unsubmitted work by deadline earns a zero.

High-School Credit in MS: Follows MS timeline/penalties; final exam required each semester to earn credit.

Excused Absence: Five days to complete missed assignments, tests, and projects. Multi-day test make-ups scheduled by teacher.

Unexcused Absence: No entitlement to daily grade make-ups; teachers may permit completion for feedback.

Truancy: No credit for missed work, including exams; practice assignments may be offered without credit.

Suspension: Five school days upon return to submit assignments and make up tests before/after school.

Extended Absence: Principal approval required; work due within five days of return; exams within five days.

Attendance Credit: Must attend ≥ 90% of class time. Appeals heard by an attendance committee; assignments requested for absences ≥ 3 days.