2025-2026 School Year Information

The 2025-2026 school year will begin Tuesday, August 19. This webpage contains important back-to-school information to ensure all students start the school year strong. 

School Calendar

Download a copy of the approved 2024-25 calendar to view important dates. Visit our interactive calendar throughout the summer to view back-to-school events.

Start & Dismissal Times

Start and dismissal times for the 2024-2025 School Year will remain the same for the 2025-26 school year: 

Tier 1: 7:15 a.m. to 2 p.m. — 8 Elementary Schools
Fairview, Fallon Park, Highland Park, Hurt Park, Garden City, Preston Park, RAMS, Westside 

Tier 2: 8 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. — 9 Elementary Schools
Crystal Spring, Fishburn Park, Grandin Court, Lincoln Terrace, Monterey, Morningside, Round Hill, Wasena, and Virginia Heights 

Tier 3: 8:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. — High Schools and Forest Park Academy
Forest Park, Patrick Henry, and William Fleming

Tier 4: 9:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. — Middle Schools and Noel C. Taylor
Noel C. Taylor, James Breckinridge, James Madison, John P. Fishwick, Lucy Addison, and Woodrow Wilson 

Student Health & Immunizations

RCPS Student Health Clinics have availability throughout the summer for students to receive required vaccinations and physicals. Visit our Student Health webpage for additional information and clinic hours.

Updated Cell Phones & Wearable Electronic Devices

As required by Code of Virginia § 22.1-79.3:1, school divisions must create and enforce guidelines that restrict student cell phone and smart device use. To comply with this law and support student success, RCPS has implemented updated division-wide cell phone guidelines, effective June 2025. Students in grades PK–12 may not use cell phones or other wireless communication devices at any time during the school day. Visit the guidelines page for more information.

Student IDs

Student IDs will continue to be used in the 2025-26 school year. Students must have their ID in order to ride the bus. 

Student IDs were one of 25 safety enhancement recommendations presented to the School Board in July 2022. A pilot was conducted in 2023 at Fallon Park Elementary School, Lucy Addison Middle School, Noel. C. Taylor and Forest Park, and IDs were fully rolled out during the 2024-25 school year.

Like staff and visitor IDs, this aligns with RCPS' Safety and Security Risk Management paradigm by easily identifying who is in the building. The full functionality of the IDs will include food services, library services, athletic services, nursing services, tardies, and dismissals.  

More information is available on our Student Resources webpage.

School Supply Lists

School supply lists will be posted here as they become available throughout the summer. Be sure to visit your school's website for the most up-to-date information!