Back-to-School Deals Calendar: Texas (Austin area), 2026–2027
Important timing note: Today is October 29, 2026. Your August 13 start date and Texas's 2026 tax-free weekend (Aug. 7–9, 2026) have both already passed. So I built this plan in two parts:
- Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2026 (Nov. 5 – Dec. 2). This is the next good chance to buy the two expensive items, the laptop and the TI-84. It also works if your kids need them now.
- Back to school 2027. This covers everything else. I've assumed school starts again around Friday, Aug. 13, 2027, so check your district's calendar.
The biggest chance to save in 2027 is Texas's sales tax holiday, expected Aug. 6–8, 2027. Most clothing, shoes, backpacks and school supplies under $100 each are tax-free that weekend, which saves about $8.25 on every $100 in the Austin area. The plan covers 7 item groups (about 14 items) with a ~$700 budget. Scissors and rulers are left off because you already have them.
Key Dates at a Glance
| Date(s) | Event | Where | Best for (your items) | Status & Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov. 1 – Dec. 24, 2026 | Target "Deal of the Day" | Target | Laptop, TI-84, backpacks | Confirmed by deal sites (Printerval, FreshCalendars). Not checked on Target.com |
| Nov. 5–7, 2026 | Target early Black Friday sale | Target | Laptop, TI-84 | Confirmed by deal sites (Printerval, FreshCalendars) |
| Nov. 12–15, 2026 | Walmart Early Black Friday Deals (Walmart+ members get in Nov. 12; everyone Nov. 13) | Walmart | Laptop (Chromebook), TI-84 | Confirmed (9to5Toys, FreshCalendars, citing Walmart's Oct. 26 announcement) |
| Nov. 23–29, 2026 (Black Friday is Nov. 27) | Walmart Black Friday Deals, plus the main Black Friday weekend everywhere | Walmart, Target, Amazon, Costco | Laptop, TI-84 | Confirmed for Walmart (FreshCalendars). Amazon's Black Friday dates weren't announced yet |
| Nov. 30 – Dec. 2, 2026 | Cyber Monday (Walmart's online event runs Nov. 30 – Dec. 2) | Walmart, Amazon, Target online | Laptop, TI-84 (last chance) | Confirmed for Walmart (FreshCalendars) |
| Late June or July 2027 | Amazon Prime Day | Amazon | Water bottles, lunch boxes, backpacks, calculator if you haven't bought it | Expected (verify). 2026 was June 23–26; 2025 was July 8–11 (Variety, Govee) |
| Mid-July – early Aug. 2027 | Weekly ads with cheap "loss-leader" supplies | Target, Walmart, H-E-B | Notebooks, pencils, highlighters, glue sticks, folders | Expected (verify), based on the usual yearly pattern. I didn't find 2027 dates (too early) |
| Fri.–Sun., Aug. 6–8, 2027 | Texas Sales Tax Holiday (items under $100) | Any Texas store, plus online sellers that do business in Texas | Sneakers, jeans, tops, backpacks, lunch boxes, supplies; TI-84 only if under $100 | Expected (verify). Follows the 2022–2026 pattern (Aug. 7–9, 2026, per the Texas Comptroller). The Legislature sets the dates |
| Aug. 13, 2027 | School starts (assumed) | — | Get teacher supply lists | Assumption. Check your district's calendar |
| ~Aug. 16–27, 2027 | Clearance on leftover back-to-school stock | Target, Walmart | Teacher-requested extras, folders, spare glue sticks | Expected (verify), typical end-of-season pattern |
| Mon., Sept. 6, 2027 | Labor Day sales | Old Navy, Target, Amazon | Replacement tops, fall clothes | Expected (verify), typical pattern. The date is just the calendar |
Your Item-by-Item Buy Plan
| Item | Buy When | Where to Look | What to Expect (typical deal) | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laptop for 9th grader (Google Docs, some video) | Nov. 12 – Dec. 2, 2026 | Walmart, Target, Amazon, Costco | Black Friday is usually one of the best times of year to buy laptops (ShopBack). Discounts vary by model | A Chromebook or basic Windows laptop is enough for Google Docs and light video. Look for 8GB RAM if possible. First, ask the school whether it lends out a device. Computers are not tax-free during the holiday, so don't wait for it |
| Graphing calculator (TI-84) | Nov. 12 – Dec. 2, 2026, or the tax holiday if the price falls under $100 | Walmart, Target, Amazon, Costco | Prices vary. Watch for Black Friday markdowns | Ask the math teacher whether the TI-84 Plus CE (color) or the older TI-84 Plus is fine. Calculators count as school supplies, but only items under $100 are tax-free, so check eligibility at the price you'd pay |
| 2 backpacks | Aug. 6–8, 2027 (tax holiday) | Target, Walmart, Costco, Amazon | Tax-free if under $100 each, plus any store sale | Buy them before the kids' first day. A backpack you buy early in November still won't be tax-free |
| Sneakers (now size 4 and 6 youth) | Aug. 6–8, 2027 | Target, Walmart, Old Navy, Amazon | Most shoes under $100 are tax-free | Kids' feet will likely grow by next August, so measure in July before you buy. Don't stock up now. Sport-only gear like cleats doesn't qualify, but everyday sneakers do |
| Jeans and a few tops (6th grader) | Aug. 6–8, 2027. Labor Day for any fill-ins | Old Navy, Target, Walmart | Tax-free under $100 per item. Old Navy often runs sales on top of that | Check sizes in July. Buy the basics during the holiday and wait until after school starts for "trend" items your child asks for |
| 2 lunch boxes + 2 water bottles | Prime Day 2027 or the tax holiday | Amazon, Target, Walmart, Costco | Lunch boxes are listed as tax-free supplies under $100 (KFDM). Water bottles: check eligibility | Insulated bottles often show up in Prime Day deals. Compare the bottle's sale price with the 8.25% tax saving before choosing which event to buy in |
| Basic supplies: notebooks, pencils, highlighters, glue sticks, folders | Late July 2027 cheap weekly deals, or the tax holiday | Target, Walmart, H-E-B | All five are typically tax-free during the holiday | First count what's left over at home. Buy only the minimum before day one, then finish after the teac |