First Day for All D11 K–12 Students

Today is the first day of school for every K–12 student in Colorado Springs School District 11. Wednesday, August 12 marks the official start of the 2026–27 school year for D11's full enrollment, following Jumpstart Day on Tuesday, which brought kindergartners, sixth graders, and ninth graders in first for an orientation session.

For families who have spent the last few weeks getting kids ready, today is the day those preparations pay off. For families who felt like time got away from them, take comfort in this: D11 enrollment is still open, and you can get your child registered today.

Free Edukit Supply Kits for K–8

One of the most practical pieces of D11 news this week is the Edukit program. All K–8 students — more than 14,000 kids — will receive a free, grade-specific school supply kit when they arrive at school today. The kits are delivered directly to students and are matched to what their grade level actually needs for the year. Parents don't need to do anything to request them; the kits are distributed on arrival.

Where D20 and D49 Stand

Not every Colorado Springs family is in D11. Here's the start-date picture for the other two major districts:

District 20, which serves northern Colorado Springs and Monument, has a staggered start. Preschool, elementary school, sixth graders, and ninth graders begin on Monday, August 17. All other D20 students start Tuesday, August 18.

District 49, which serves the eastern areas of the Colorado Springs metro, already started. Kindergartners, sixth graders, and ninth graders began Monday, August 3. All other D49 students started Tuesday, August 4. If your D49 kid is heading into their second week and is still working out the routine, that's normal.

D11 Enrollment Is Still Open

If your child isn't yet enrolled in D11 and should be, the district is still accepting registrations. Visit d11.org to get started online, or head in person to the district's enrollment office at 1033 N. Franklin St. in Colorado Springs. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM MT.

D11 serves Colorado Springs families from kindergarten through 12th grade. Starting mid-year or mid-week is possible, and enrollment staff can walk you through the process.

What's Next

D11 students are in school as of today. D20's start dates arrive next week — August 17 for younger grades and 6th/9th, August 18 for all others. The full back-to-school picture for Colorado Springs is set through the end of August.

Tonight is a good night for a short check-in with your kid about their first day. A specific question works better than a general one — "What was the best part?" or "Who did you sit with at lunch?" tends to get more out of them than "How was school?" For more on managing the transition, see our back-to-school anxiety guide published today.

For questions about D11 enrollment, programs, or calendars, visit d11.org.