When is the first day of school in Delaware? Start dates vary across public schools
Time to get up for school. Almost.
Many Delaware public schools will be opening their doors by the end of this month or the first week of September. Get the supplies together; check if your school has an open house, orientation or class photos; plan your route to the bus stop or drop-off — and get ready to take your students' first-day-of-school photos.
We mapped out when the first day of school for students will fall for Delaware districts:
Brandywine — Monday, Aug. 28
Monday will be the first day for grades first to sixth, high school freshmen and seniors, according to the district calendar. It also serves as kindergarten orientation day, though times vary across schools. By the following day, Tuesday, Aug. 29, all K-12 students report for school
Colonial — Monday, Aug. 28
Monday will be the first day for kindergarteners with last names A-L, grades first to sixth, and high school freshmen, as Colonial begins a staggered start. Tuesday will then also welcome grades seventh and eighth, alongside sophomores and seniors. By Wednesday, the rest of the kindergarten class should arrive, followed by all of pre-K on Sept. 5.
Laurel — Monday, Aug. 28
Monday will welcome all of kindergarten and first grade, as well as seventh and ninth grades in Laurel School District. The next day will then bring in all pre-K to high school seniors across the Sussex County system.
New Castle County Vo-Tech — Monday, Aug. 28
Vo-Tech's first week of school will come at a staggered start. By this last Monday in August, just seniors will attend. Tuesday will see only juniors, while seniors see asynchronous learning. Wednesday only sophomores and Thursday only freshmen, alongside asynchronous learning.
Students will then see no school on Friday, Sept. 1, before all students are in attendance by Tuesday, Sept. 5.
POLYTECH — Monday, Aug. 28
This Monday will be the first school day for all students at POLYTECH High School.
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Red Clay Consolidated — Monday, Aug. 28
Monday will mark the first day of school for Red Clay's Early Years Program, kindergarteners with last names A-L, grades first to sixth and high school freshmen. Tuesday, the same kindergarteners report alongside all other students. By Wednesday and Thursday, the other half of kindergarteners, names M-Z, report instead to make it a split week for kindergarten.
With such a strenuous first week back in the classroom, students can look forward to no class Friday or Monday.
Seaford — Monday, Aug. 28
Monday will be Day No. 1 for just pre-K, kindergarten, third, sixth and ninth grade. By the following Tuesday, Aug. 29, all students should be reporting for duty in Seaford.
Sussex Technical — Monday, Aug. 28
For Sussex County Vocational Technical School District, Monday will open doors to just freshmen. And they can expect all other high school students to join the ranks once they've settled in, the next day.
Woodbridge — Monday, Aug. 28
Students from first grade to sixth, high school freshman and kindergarten (group A) will see their first day of school Monday for Woodbridge. The next day seventh and eighth, alongside the rest of high school students, head to class. By Wednesday, Aug. 30, the second half of kindergarteners will report.
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Milford — Tuesday, Aug. 29
Tuesday will offer a "transition day" for kindergarteners, first and sixth grade, as well as high school freshmen. The next day, Aug. 30, will mark the first day of school for K-12 in Milford.
Lake Forest — Thursday, Aug. 31
Lake Forest is hosting a half-day "transition day" for kindergarteners, fourth and sixth grade, as well as high school freshmen that Thursday — while all other grades can attend for a meet-and-greet and school visits. The next week, Tuesday, Sept. 5, will mark the first day of school for all grades.
Appoquinimink — Tuesday, Sept. 5
The first Tuesday in September will welcome Appo's first through ninth grades, alongside kindergarteners with last names A-L. The next half of kindergarten and the rest of high school joins in by Wednesday, followed by all of pre-K on Thursday.
Caesar Rodney — Tuesday, Sept. 5
Tuesday will be the first day of school for Caesar Rodney students.
Capital — Tuesday, Sept. 5
The first September Tuesday will mark the first day of school for Capital's kindergarten through ninth graders. The remaining high schoolers will stagger by one day, heading to school by Wednesday, Sept. 6.
Christina — Tuesday, Sept. 5
Tuesday will welcome Christina's grades one to six, alongside high school freshman, alongside an orientation for kindergarten. The first day of school for the rest of K-12 comes the next day. Tuesday also marks the first day for Brennen School, DSD and the Reach Program.
Delmar — Tuesday, Sept. 5
On Tuesday, fifth and ninth grades kick off the school year for Delmar. All grades report by Wednesday, Sept. 6.
Indian River — Tuesday, Sept. 5
Grades kindergarten, sixth and ninth, alongside the Howard T. Ennis school (excluding preschool), start out the school year for Indian River on Tuesday. Then the first day for the rest of K-12 comes Wednesday. Preschool will begin the following Monday, Sep. 11.
Smyrna — Tuesday, Sept. 5
This first Tuesday in September will mark the first pupil day for K-12 students in Smyrna. The remaining students report the following day.
Cape Henlopen — Wednesday, Sept. 6
Wednesday is set to be the first day for students to report back to school at Cape Henlopen.
Have a story? Kelly Powers covers race, culture and equity for the USA TODAY Network's Northeast Region and Delaware Online, with a focus on education. Contact her at kepowers@gannett.com or (231) 622-2191, and follow her on Twitter @kpowers01.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: See the first day for public schools in Delaware
