When does my kid go back to school? Here's the start dates for Greater Columbus districts
When does your kid go back to school?
Most children in the Columbus area will be back at their school desks the week of Aug. 14. But figuring out exactly when your child will start school can be complicated. Since many districts offer staggered start dates by grades and even students' last names, it can get confusing.
The variety of school start dates in Greater Columbus contrasts with other states, like Michigan, where state law prohibits school districts from beginning their academic year before Labor Day — unless a collective-bargaining agreement includes a complete school calendar.
Don't remember when your children go back to school? No worries. The Dispatch has you covered.
Here's a list of when each school district in Franklin County and some in neighboring counties starts next month:
Franklin County school start dates:
Bexley City Schools: Aug. 17 (all students)
Canal Winchester Schools: Aug. 16 (grades 1-6, 9); Aug. 17 for all other grades. Preschool begins Aug. 22, and kindergarten begins on Aug. 23.
Columbus City Schools: All schools begin classes Aug. 23, except Woodcrest Elementary, which began classes July 26.
Dublin City Schools: Aug. 17 (K-12); Aug. 23 (preschool)
Eastland-Fairfield Career & Technical Schools: Aug. 14 (juniors); Aug. 15 (seniors); Aug. 16 (all students report)
Gahanna-Jefferson Public Schools: Aug. 17
Grandview Heights Schools: Aug. 15
Groveport Madison Local Schools: Aug. 16 (grades 1-6, 9); Aug. 17 (all students report)
Hamilton Local Schools: Aug. 15
Hilliard City Schools: Aug. 22
New Albany-Plains Local Schools: Aug. 16 (grades 1-12, last names A-K only); Aug. 17 (grades 1-12, last names L-Z only); Aug. 21 (grades 1-12 all students; all-day preschool and kindergarten, last names A-K only); Aug. 22 (all-day preschool and kindergarten, last names L-Z only); Aug. 23 (half-day preschool and kindergarten, last names A-K only; all-day preschool and kindergarten, all students report); Aug. 24 (half-day preschool and kindergarten, last names L-Z only)
Reynoldsburg City Schools: Aug. 17 (last names A-K); Aug. 18 (last names L-Z)
South-Western City Schools: Aug. 21 (grades 4-12); Aug. 22 (grades K-3, last names A-G); Aug. 23 (grades K-3, last names H-O); Aug. 24 (grades K-3, last names P-Z)
Upper Arlington City Schools: Aug. 16 (grades 1-6, 9); Aug. 16-17 (kindergarten orientation); Aug. 17 (classes in session for all K-12); Aug 18. (all students in session)
Westerville City Schools: Aug. 15 (grades 1-6 and 9-12), Aug. 16 (grades 7-8). Kindergarten gentle start dates are August 15, 16, 17, and preschool gentle start dates are Aug. 16, 17. Aug. 18, all kindergarten students, Aug. 21 all preschool students.
Whitehall City Schools: Aug. 17 (grades 1-12); Aug. 23 (kindergarten)
Worthington Schools: Aug. 16
Other central Ohio schools
Big Walnut: Aug. 21
Buckeye Valley Local Schools: Aug. 17
Delaware City Schools: Aug. 16
Fairbanks Local Schools: Aug. 16 (1-13); Aug. 21 (preschool and kindergarten)
Licking Heights Local Schools (part of which is in Franklin County, but most of which is in Licking County): Aug. 17 (grades 1-9, kindergarten last names A-K); Aug. 18 (grades 10-12, kindergarten last names L-Z)
Madison-Plains Local School District: Aug. 17 (grades 1-12, kindergarten girls); Aug. 18 (kindergarten boys).
Marysville Exempted Village Schools: Aug. 16 (grades 1-8, last names A-M), Aug. 16 is ninth grade freshman day; Aug. 17 (grades 912, 1-8 last names N-Z); Aug. 18 (all 1-8 students); Aug. 21 (all kindergarten students)
Olentangy Local Schools: Aug. 17
Pickerington Local Schools: Aug. 15-16 (staggered start grades 1-12); Aug. 17 (first full day grades 1-12); Aug. 21 (kindergarten)
More school news: How much will Columbus schools Superintendent Angela Chapman be paid under her new contract?
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Cbehrens@dispatch.com
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: When do Greater Columbus school districts start their school year?
