Boston's first full school week begins Tuesday, and the start is split by grade level. Students in grades 1–12 report on September 8. Pre-K and kindergarten students begin September 10. That two-day difference is the first detail families should lock into the calendar before arranging drop-off, work schedules or child care.

The dates to know

  • Tuesday, September 8: first day for students in grades 1–12, including grade 1 in ELCs and EECs.
  • Thursday, September 10: first day for Pre-K and kindergarten students, including EECs, ELCs and special education.

The complete BPS district calendar also lists early-release days, holidays and school vacations for the year.

Check transportation before the morning rush

BPS says its transportation team maps more than 600 bus routes for roughly 20,000 students. Families should verify the assigned stop, pickup time and student information before Tuesday rather than relying on last year's routine. Students in grades 7–12 who qualify should also confirm their MBTA M7 pass arrangements.

The official back-to-school page lists the Transportation Hotline at 617-635-9520, open Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. The general BPS Helpline is 617-635-8873 and operates weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

A five-minute family check tonight

  • Confirm the correct first day for your child's grade.
  • Check the bus stop, pickup time and dismissal plan.
  • Place school contact information in both the student's bag and a caregiver's phone.
  • Review uniform, medication, meal and device instructions from the individual school.
  • Plan extra travel time during the first several mornings while routes and routines settle.

The first week rarely goes perfectly. The useful goal is not a flawless morning; it is making sure every child knows where to go, how they are getting home and which adult to contact if the plan changes.