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D11 Jumpstart Day Is Monday — What Kindergarteners, 6th Graders, and 9th Graders Need to Know

By Sarah Morales, Staff Reporter
Published August 9, 2026
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If your D11 student is starting kindergarten, moving to middle school, or heading to high school for the first time this year, their first day isn't Wednesday — it's Monday.

District 11 holds a Jumpstart Day on August 11 specifically for students who are entering a new building level: kindergarteners, incoming 6th graders, and incoming 9th graders. The idea is straightforward — give transition-year students a chance to find their classrooms, get comfortable with the building, and meet their teachers before the full student body arrives on Wednesday, August 12.

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Who Goes on Monday and Why

The Jumpstart Day applies to three specific groups:

  • Kindergarteners entering D11 for the first time
  • Incoming 6th graders transitioning from elementary to middle school
  • Incoming 9th graders transitioning from middle to high school

These transitions are the ones that tend to produce the most first-day nerves — new buildings, new bell schedules, lockers in some cases, and a much larger peer group. A lower-pressure Monday orientation gives these students a head start before the hallways fill up on Wednesday.

If your student is in any other grade — 1st through 5th, 7th or 8th, 10th through 12th — their first day is Wednesday, August 12, along with everyone else.

Quick Reference: D11 First-Week Dates

D11 Back-to-School Schedule — August 2026
Date Who What
Monday, August 11 Kindergarteners, 6th graders, 9th graders Jumpstart Day (orientation)
Wednesday, August 12 All D11 K-12 students First day of school
Wednesday, August 12 D11 K-8 students Free Edukit school supplies distributed

Enrollment Is Still Open

If you haven't enrolled yet, D11 registration is still open. You can complete it online at d11.org, or visit the enrollment office in person at 1033 N. Franklin Street, Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 4 PM MT.

D11 serves neighborhoods across central Colorado Springs and offers a range of schools, including magnet programs, traditional schools, and specialized academies. If you're new to the district or moving schools within D11, the enrollment office can help clarify your options based on your address.

One More Thing Before Wednesday

New Colorado traffic laws also take effect on August 12. School zones now extend to at least 1,000 feet from school property boundaries, and fines are doubled within those zones. New "school street" designations require a 10 mph speed limit and yielding to pedestrians and cyclists on roadways immediately adjacent to schools. Worth knowing before the morning drop-off routine begins.

What's Next

Jumpstart Day is Monday, August 11. The first full day for all D11 students is Wednesday, August 12. D20 families, your first day is August 17 and 18 — watch for communications from your school this week. If you have questions about building-specific schedules, bell times, or supply lists, your school's main office is the best contact now that staff are back on campus.


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