Back to school: Here's everything parents need to know to get students ready for new year

Rachel Royster, Austin American-Statesman
·5 min read

As August rolls around and students begin preparing their first-day outfits, it’s time to start tackling the back-to-school to-do list: buying school supplies, planning transportation and making sure the kids are up to date on their vaccinations and physical exams.

This year, parents can get school supplies for a lower price Friday through Sunday during the annual tax-free weekend.

With each school level having differing vaccination requirements, parents should visit dshs.texas.gov to determine whether their kids need to visit the doctor before the first day of classes.

Here is your back-to-school guide, organized by school district (enrollment numbers are as of the 2022-23 school year):

Josh Jackson, a volunteer, hands out bags at Sanchez Law Firm’s third annual back-to-school backpack drive July 27.
Josh Jackson, a volunteer, hands out bags at Sanchez Law Firm’s third annual back-to-school backpack drive July 27.

Austin ISD

  • School starts: Tuesday, Aug. 20

  • Start/end time: Elementary schools — 7:40 a.m. to 3:10 p.m.; middle schools — 8:20 a.m. to 3:50 p.m. (Kealing: 7:20 a.m. to 2:50 p.m., Mendez: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Ann Richards: 9 a.m. to 4:35 p.m.); high schools — 9:05 a.m. to 4:35 p.m. (LASA: 8:15 a.m. to 3:55 p.m., Ann Richards: 9 a.m. to 4:35 p.m.)

  • Enrollment: 73,384 students

  • School supply list: Refer to specific school or teacher for necessities; directory listed at austinisd.org/directory

Bastrop ISD

  • School starts: Wednesday, Aug. 14

  • Start/end time: Elementary schools — 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.; middle schools — 8:40 a.m. to 4:10 p.m.; high schools — 8:40 a.m. to 4:10 p.m.

  • Enrollment: 12,506 students

  • School supply list: bisdtx.org

Del Valle ISD

  • School starts: Wednesday, Aug. 7

  • Start/end time: Elementary schools — 7:30 a.m. to 2:50 p.m.; middle schools — 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; high school — 8:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

  • Enrollment: 11,118 students

  • School supply list: dvisd.net

Dripping Springs ISD

  • School starts: Tuesday, Aug. 13

  • Start/end time: Elementary — 7:45 a.m. to 3 p.m.; middle and high schools — 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.

  • Enrollment: 8,375 students

  • School supply list: dsisdtx.us

Eanes ISD

  • School starts: Wednesday, Aug. 14

  • Start/end time: Elementary schools — 7:40 a.m. to 2:50 a.m. (Eanes: 7:35 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.; Forest Trail: 8:20 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.); middle schools — 8:35 a.m. to 4 p.m.; high school — 8:50 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.

  • Enrollment: 7,733 students

  • School supply list: eanesisd.net

Elgin ISD

  • School starts: Wednesday, Aug. 14

  • Start/end time: Elementary schools — 7:25 or 7:30 a.m. to 3 or 3:05 p.m.; intermediate school — 8:15 a.m. to 3:50 p.m.; middle school — 8:25 a.m. to 4 p.m.; high school — 8 or 9 a.m. to 12:30 or 4:35 p.m.

  • Enrollment: 5,404 students

  • School supply list: elginisd.net

Georgetown ISD

  • School starts: Thursday, Aug. 15

  • Start/end time: Elementary schools — 7:40 a.m. to 3 p.m.; middle schools — 9 a.m. to 4:20 p.m.; high schools — 8:40 a.m. to 4 p.m.

  • Enrollment: 13,155 students

  • School supply list: georgetownisd.org

Hays CISD

  • School starts: Tuesday, Aug. 13

  • Start/end time: Elementary schools — 7:30 a.m. to 2:55 p.m.; middle schools — 8:10 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.; high schools — 8:55 a.m. to 4:25 p.m.

  • Enrollment: 22,297 students

  • School supply list: hayscisd.net

Hutto ISD

  • School starts: Wednesday, Aug. 14 (Veterans’ Hill Elementary starts Monday, Aug. 12)

  • Start/end time: Elementary schools — 7:30 a.m. to 2:55 p.m.; middle school 8:15 a.m. to 3:40 p.m.; high schools 9 a.m. to 4:25 p.m.

  • Enrollment: 9,620 students

  • School supply list: hipponation.org

Lake Travis ISD

  • School starts: Wednesday, Aug. 14

  • Start/end time: Elementary schools — 7:40 a.m. to 3 p.m.; middle and high schools — 8:50 a.m. to 4:10 p.m.

  • Enrollment: 11,399 students

  • School supply list: ltisdschools.org

Leander ISD

  • School starts: Wednesday, Aug. 14

  • Start/end time: Elementary schools — 7:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.; middle schools — 9:05 a.m. to 4:20 p.m.; high schools — 8:15 a.m. to 3:35 p.m.

  • Enrollment: 42,415 students

  • School supply list: Refer to specific school or teacher for necessities; directory listed at leanderisd.org/staffdirectory

Manor ISD

  • School starts: Wednesday, Aug. 14

  • Start/end time: Elementary schools — 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.; middle schools — 8:25 a.m. to 3:55 p.m.; high schools — 9:15 a.m. to 4:55 p.m. (Manor New Technology High: 8:25 a.m. to 3:55 p.m.; MEA/MAP: 9:15 a.m. to 4:35 p.m.)

  • Enrollment: 9,255 students

  • School supply list: manorisd.net

Pflugerville ISD

  • School starts: Tuesday, Aug. 13

  • Start/end time: Elementary schools — 7:35 a.m. to 2:50 p.m.; middle schools — 8:20 a.m. to 3:35 p.m.; high schools — 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.

  • Enrollment: 25,445 students

  • School supply list: pfisd.net 

Round Rock ISD

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Everything parents need to know before students return to school