First Week of School Is Almost Done for D20 — Here's How All Three COS Districts Are Doing
Today is the last day of D20's first full week of school. If your household is still finding its rhythm — lunches forgotten, bedtimes pushed, mornings that feel like organized chaos — that is genuinely normal, and you're not behind. The back-to-school adjustment period takes time, and every family in Colorado Springs is somewhere in that process right now.
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Colorado Springs' three main school districts started at different points this month, so families are at different stages of the adjustment curve depending on where their kids are enrolled.
D49 (Falcon School District 49) started August 3–4 and is now completing its third or fourth week of the 2026–27 school year. Families in the eastern COS and Falcon area have had the most time to settle in, though the earlier start means the novelty has already worn off and the "mid-fall routine" feels are setting in.
D11 (Colorado Springs School District 11) started August 12 and is wrapping up week two. D11 is the largest district in the city by enrollment, serving roughly 25,000 students across dozens of schools. Week two is often when things start feeling slightly more consistent — the classroom expectations are clearer, and the faces are more familiar.
D20 (Academy School District 20) used a staggered start: kindergarteners, sixth graders, and ninth graders began on August 17, with all other grade levels starting August 18. Today, August 21, is Friday of that first full week. D20 serves approximately 28,000 students across 45 or more schools.
What to Expect in Week Two
Research consistently shows that school routines take two to three weeks to solidify for most children. Week one is often the hardest — there's newness and excitement, but also overstimulation, and kids come home exhausted in ways that can be surprising. By week two or three, routines start to click.
A few things worth doing this weekend as families head into that second week:
Sleep: Most school-age children need nine to 11 hours of sleep per night. If the school year has disrupted sleep schedules, this weekend is a good time to reset — earlier bedtime, consistent wake time on Saturday and Sunday so Monday morning is not a shock.
Communication with teachers: If your child mentioned anything confusing or frustrating about the first week, a short, friendly email to their teacher goes a long way. Teachers genuinely want to know early, and week two is a natural check-in point before patterns get set.
Homework routines: If you haven't established a consistent homework time and location yet, now is a good moment. Research supports a predictable after-school structure — snack, downtime, homework — rather than homework immediately after school or right before bed.
COS Resources for Families
All three district websites — d11.org, d20.org, and d49.org — list resources for families navigating the school year, including information on free and reduced-price school lunch programs, before and after school care options, and mental health services.
For families who need additional support, Pikes Peak Mental Health Center serves Colorado Springs and can be reached at 719-572-6100. They offer counseling services for children and adolescents as well as support for parents managing the stress of school transitions.
What's Next
For D20 families, week two begins Monday, August 24. For D11, it is the start of week three. D49 families are continuing to build on an already-established routine. COS Parenting will continue to follow school district news and share relevant updates as the 2026–27 school year gets underway. Stay connected at d11.org, d20.org, and d49.org for district-specific announcements.
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