• 2024-2025 School Year Information

    The 2024-2025 school year will begin Tuesday, August 20. This webpage contains important back-to-school information to ensure all students start the school year strong. 

    Dr. White's Welcome Back Message

    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 provide buses with an additional cushion to help reach their stops on time. Additionally, schools are geographically aligned for route efficiency; therefore, some schools are now in a different tier than during the 2023-2024 School Year.  

    Schools marked with an * are in a different tier, so please read the following schedule carefully: 

    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 

    New: Before-School Care for Middle School

    The YMCA of Virginia's Blue Ridge offers after-school care for Roanoke City Public Schools students. New for the 2024-2025 school year, the YMCA will also offer before-school care to RCPS middle school students. Parents may drop their middle schoolers off in a safe, supportive environment before the start of the school day. Activities include exercise, study time, and educational activities. 

    Locations

    • YMCA (The YMCA will provide transportation to Lucy Addison Middle School and John P. Fishwick Middle School - students must attend one of these schools)
    • James Breckinridge Middle School (Students must attend Breckinridge)
    • James Madison Middle School (Students must attend James Madison)
    • Woodrow Wilson Middle School (Students must attend Woodrow Wilson)

    This program is run by the YMCA. Visit their website to learn more and register.

    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.

  • Additional Transportation Information

    The School Board voted on May 28, 2024, to approve several transportation changes, in addition to the changes reflected in the school start and end times. These changes were made to assist with getting students to and from school safely and on time.

    Complete details regarding these changes and what they mean are available on the Transportation Department's webpage. Additional changes include:

    • Enforcing walking/family responsibility zones
    • Eliminating after-school transportation for daycares that are outside the school's attendance zone, other than the established partners of the division
    • Establishing alternative service routes, or hub bus stops, for STEAM, PLATO, and Noel C. Taylor Learning Academy

    Bus routes for the 2024-2025 school year will be available in August. (Bus stops may change from prior year and students may have to walk to their stop in accordance with family responsibility zones.)

    New: Cell Phones & Wearable Electronic Devices

    On August 13, 2024, the School Board approved new guidelines for cell phones and wearable electronics:

    Off and Away for the Day: Grades PK-8

    All cell phones and wearable devices must be off and out of sight during the entire school day for elementary and middle school students.

    This means students may bring their devices to school but cannot use them while school is in session. A student may use a cell phone to monitor or address a health concern, with a verified note from a medical doctor.

    Off and Away during Class Time: Grades 9-12

    Students must keep cell phones and wearable devices off and out of sight during class time. Cell phones and other electronic devices may be used during hall transitions and during lunch.  A student may use a cell phone to monitor or address a health concern, with a verified note from a medical doctor.

    Visit our Policies & Procedures webpage for more information.

    New: Student IDs

    The School Board has approved the first phase of implementation for student IDs. Students who use RCPS transportation and all high school students, including students attending Noel C. Taylor Learning Academy and Forest Park Academy, will receive student identification cards in fall 2024. 

    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.

    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!
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