2024-25 Back to School Information

First Day of School

The first day of school is Wednesday, Aug. 28, for grades 1-12 and Tuesday, Sept. 3, for kindergarten.

A printed school district calendar from the 2024-25 school year will be distributed to students at the beginning of the school year and is available online.

Attendance is one of the main factors in a successful education and chronic absenteeism can lead to low grades and test scores or decrease your student’s chances of graduating.

Join CPSD in our battle against chronic absenteeism by helping us meet our goal of seeing each student’s smiling face in our classrooms on time each day beginning August 28. For more resources about how your student can improve their school attendance, visit the Attendance Works website.

Kindergarten Conferences

Conferences for families of kindergarten students will be held Aug. 30-Sept. 1, prior to the first day of school. To schedule a conference, you will be contacted by your student’s teacher. If you have not been contacted to schedule a conference by Aug. 30, please contact your student's school.

Bus Stop Information

Bus stop information will be posted online by school on Aug. 23. 

School Supply Lists

Ensuring students have the materials they need to succeed in the classroom is an important priority. CPSD schools order and provide general classroom supplies for students and replenish them during the school year as needed. As a resource to families, the district publishes elementary and middle school supply lists if families choose to purchase school supplies to have at home:

Elementary school supply list
Middle school supply list

The district does not publish a high school supply list for families because supplies needed at home may change depending on the class.

Dress Codes

To facilitate learning, the district requires students dress for a safe, collaborative school environment. The district dress code is available on our website for reference. 

School Meals

CPSD will offer free breakfast and lunch for all students for the 2024-25 school year. You can view your school’s breakfast and lunch menus on our Nutrislice website. Schools will update their menus closer to the start of the school year.

All families will receive a family income survey by email that must be completed by Sept. 30

School Start and Dismissal Times

To access a full list of start and dismissal times for each district school, please view the General School Information page.

Visitor Entry

School doors will remain locked during instructional hours until dismissal, and all visitors must enter the school using the visitor entry system. At the main entrance of each school, visitors must verify their identity and purpose of the visit. For questions or concerns, please contact your student’s school.

CPSD Computer Assurance Program

The district offers a computer assurance program that will dramatically reduce the cost of replacing your student’s computer if it is damaged or stolen. Program cost is $30 per student. You can pay online for the CPSD Computer Assurance Program at https://wa-cloverpark.intouchreceipting.com. 

 For step-by-step directions on how to purchase the assurance program, please view this instructional PDF.

The assurance program fee will be reduced for families who have applied for and received free and reduced-price meals and consent to share your information.  

Required Annual Student Updates

Instead of completing and returning paper forms, families will use Skyward Family Access each year to complete required annual documents for each student's school.  

Please log in to Skyward Family Access before school starts to update your student’s information.

Skyward Family Access is an important tool to help you support your student's academic success. In addition to monitoring your student's assignments and grades, you will now complete the following in Skyward Family Access for each student:

•  Review and sign Parent Handbook 
• Update contact information
• Military Impact Aid Form and affiliation
• Ethnicity and Race Form
• Consideration for scholarships, free college applications and lower fees
• Health Information Form

·       Instructions for updating your contact information: Video (English) 

Can't remember your password?

Click on Forgot Password link from Skyward Family Access log-in page.  

New to Skyward or have never signed in?

Contact your student's school if you need your log-in information. 

Required Immunizations

Immunizations will be required for students to participate in the 2024-25 school year.  

Washington state law requires children enrolling in public schools to present proof of immunity against Hepatitis B, Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Polio, Measles, Mumps, Rubella and Varicella. 

You can learn more about immunization records and requirements on the Department of Health website. 

Students must receive vaccinations prior to the first day of school from their health care provider or one of the free immunization sites found on the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department Immunization page.