Academy District 20's two-day staggered start wraps up today. Grades 1 through 5, 7th and 8th grade, and 10th through 12th grade begin the 2026-27 school year this morning. Yesterday's opener covered preschool, kindergarten, 6th grade, and 9th grade — the students who are new to their buildings this year. Now the full district is in session, and all three Colorado Springs school districts are officially running simultaneously for the first time this fall.

Quick Reference: COS District Start Dates

What This Week Looks Like

Today's D20 opening means the north end of Colorado Springs is running full back-to-school traffic. Expect heavier congestion near D20 campuses this morning, particularly on Interquest Parkway, Briargate Boulevard, and the Powers corridor. Drop-off lines at buildings with multiple grade levels will take longer than usual as families settle into routines.

If you're a D20 family with kids in both yesterday's and today's cohorts, you've had two different pickup times, two different first-day logistics, and probably two different sets of nerves. The two-day format is gentler on the kids — the adults carry the extra coordination load.

What's Next

The first week is when schedules get stress-tested. Watch your parent portal for building-specific updates on parking, bus routes, and after-school changes — most come through in the first 48 to 72 hours. If this is your family's first year in D20, save your school's main office number now, before the week fills up. And for families with kids transitioning buildings this year (kindergartners, 6th graders, 9th graders), give them space to process the first few days before jumping to conclusions about how the year will go — the first week is its own adjustment curve for everyone.