COS School Start Dates for 2026-27 -- D11 August 12, D20 August 17-18, D49 in August
The Dates for Each COS District
Colorado Springs families have fewer than three weeks until the 2026-27 school year begins. Here are the confirmed first-day dates for each of the three main Colorado Springs-area districts.
Colorado Springs School District 11
District 11 students in grades kindergarten through 12 return to school on Wednesday, August 12, 2026. This is the first day for all K-12 grades at D11. The last day of school for the 2026-27 year is May 25, 2027.
D11 is the earliest of the three districts to start this year. Families in D11 have less than three weeks from today to finalize school supplies, routines, and before-and-after-school arrangements.
Advertisement
Advertise hereAcademy District 20
Academy District 20 has a two-day rollout for its first week back. Preschool, elementary, 6th grade, and 9th grade students begin on August 17, 2026. All remaining D20 students join on August 18, 2026. D20's slightly later start date gives families an additional five days compared to D11.
District 49
District 49 also opens in August 2026. The specific first day of school for D49 students was not confirmed at the time of publication -- families should check the district calendar directly at d49.org/discover-d49/district-calendar for the exact date.
D49 is also opening the new Student Success Center this August. The center adds two early childhood education classrooms available to D49 families districtwide, running on a Monday through Thursday schedule. More information is at d49.org.
Quick Reference
| District | First Day of School | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| D11 (Colorado Springs School District 11) | August 12, 2026 | K-12 all grades; last day May 25, 2027 |
| D20 (Academy District 20) | August 17, 2026 | Preschool, elementary, 6th grade, 9th grade |
| D20 (all other grades) | August 18, 2026 | All remaining students |
| D49 (District 49) | August 2026 | Exact date: d49.org/discover-d49/district-calendar |
D49 Student Success Center Opens in August
In addition to the regular school start date, D49 is opening the Student Success Center at the start of the 2026-27 school year. The center features two new early childhood education classrooms open to D49 families throughout the district. The program runs Monday through Thursday. This is an expansion of D49's early childhood offerings beyond its individual school campuses.
What's Next
School supply lists for D11 and D20 are typically published two to three weeks before the first day. At this point in the calendar, families can expect lists to have been posted or to appear imminently on each district's website. D11 lists are at d11.org, D20 lists are at asd20.org, and D49 lists are at d49.org.
COS Parenting will cover back-to-school resources, school supply roundups, and first-day guides in the weeks ahead. For families with children in early childhood programs, the D49 Student Success Center details are at d49.org.
What locals are saying
Be the first to share your thoughts
Start the conversation about this article.
Leave a reply
More from Colorado Springs
D11 Bond Vote Is August 5 โ What COS Families Should Know Before the Board Decides
The Colorado Springs School District 11 Board of Education votes August 5 on whether to place a $775 million bond measure on the November 2026 ballot. That vote is four days away, and for families across central Colorado
Colorado Turns 150 Today โ Free Family Celebration at Pioneers Museum in COS Through 4 p.m.
Colorado became a state on August 1, 1876. That was 150 years ago today, which makes this Colorado's sesquicentennial โ a milestone the state has been building toward all year. In Colorado Springs, the celebration is hap
COS School Start Dates Updated: D20 Begins August 17-18, Not August 13 โ Plus D11's Free Supplies
A correction to the COS back-to-school calendar, and an update worth sharing if you have children in Academy District 20.