After the supply lists, the new backpacks, and the first-day-eve countdown, Monday is finally here for District 49 families. Today is the first day of school — but not for everyone at once. D49 is using a staggered start, and which day your kid heads in depends on their grade.

Who Starts Today, Who Starts Tomorrow

Monday, August 3 is the first day for three specific grade levels: kindergarteners, 6th graders, and 9th graders. If your student is in one of those groups, today's the day. If your student is in any other grade, hold tight — they start Tuesday, August 4.

D49 Staggered Start Schedule

Date	Grades Attending
Monday, August 3	Kindergarten, 6th grade, 9th grade
Tuesday, August 4	All remaining grades (1–5, 7–8, 10–12)

The staggered design is intentional. Kindergarteners, 6th graders, and 9th graders are all entering a new building for the first time — a new school level, new hallways, new routines. Giving those groups a day before the full population arrives means calmer hallways, more staff attention during the adjustment, and a softer landing for kids who are already navigating a big transition.

What to Expect at Drop-Off and Pickup

D49 does not publish a district-wide bell schedule — arrival and dismissal times vary by school and are available on each school's individual page at their [school].d49.org site. If you're not sure of your school's exact times, that's the place to check. Staff will be available to help with arrival flow, especially for the transition-year grades walking into a new building for the first time.

For pickup this afternoon, plan ahead. D49 serves eastern Colorado Springs and the Falcon area, and afternoon car lines can stretch. Build in extra time today.

A Note on the Heat

The National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory for El Paso County from 9 AM to 8 PM MDT today. Temperatures are expected to reach approximately 100 degrees in Colorado Springs this afternoon. That window covers the entire school day — including dismissal.

If you're waiting in a car line, parking lot, or walking to meet your kid: bring water, wear sunscreen, and stay in shade where you can find it. Kids who walked to school or are waiting outside after dismissal need fluids and shade quickly in this kind of heat. School staff will be monitoring outdoor conditions, but parents at pickup carry most of that responsibility on their end.

No D49-wide heat early-release policy was announced ahead of today's first day. Expect normal dismissal schedules unless your individual school communicates otherwise.

D49 at a Glance

D49 operates 27 schools across eastern Colorado Springs and El Paso County, including the Falcon and Meridian Ranch communities. The district is separate from D11 (central Colorado Springs) and D20 (north Colorado Springs). If you're not sure which district your neighborhood is in, that's worth a quick check — the first-day schedule and school resources vary significantly between districts.

What's Next

Tuesday, August 4, all remaining D49 grades join in and the full school-year rhythm kicks off for the district. For families waiting on other area districts: D11's first day is August 12, one week from Tuesday. D49's staggered start is just the beginning — the full back-to-school run for Colorado Springs families extends into mid-August.