Back-to-School Countdown: First Day Dates Vary by District Across the Metro Suburbs

Summer break is winding down, and first-day-of-school dates are starting to show up on refrigerator calendars across the metro suburbs — though exactly when varies quite a bit depending on which district a family falls into.

Beaverton School District has the earliest start among the larger local districts, with students returning Tuesday, August 25 — just a week away.

West Linn-Wilsonville School District starts later, with the first day set for Tuesday, September 1, giving families in West Linn an extra week compared to Beaverton.

Gresham-Barlow School District is taking a staggered approach this year: high school freshmen start first on September 8, with a late-start day for all grades on September 9. Elementary students have a gradual entry the week of September 8, with kindergartners' first full day landing on Monday, September 14.

Families in Lake Oswego and the Clackamas area should check directly with their own district's calendar, since start dates and any staggered-entry plans can differ even between neighboring districts — what applies in Beaverton or West Linn won't necessarily match up.

A few things worth doing before the first bell rings, regardless of district: confirming bus routes and stop times (these can shift year to year even on a familiar street), checking whether school supply lists have been posted, and, for families with kids starting a new school, looking into whether an orientation or open house is offered beforehand. With start dates spread across nearly three weeks this year, it's worth double-checking the exact date for your own kids rather than assuming it matches a neighbor's.