School Year Information

Posted on August 22, 2026

Complete the Back-to-School Packet on ParentVUE

Complete the Back-to-School Packet

Important Dates

September/October

Sept. 1 – First Day of School PreK & VPI

Sept. 4 – Sept. 7: Labor Day Holiday

Sept. 16 – H-B Woodlawn Back-to-School Night

Sept. 17 – Elementary Back-to-School Night

Sept. 23 – Grace Hopper Center Back-to-School Night

Sept. 30 – High Schools Back-to-School Night

Oct. 7 – Arlington Community High School Back-to-School Night

View the full school year calendar
See for important dates, including holidays, parent-teacher conferences and more! 2026-27 School Year Calendar

School Start and End Times

Elementary Schools

7:50 a.m. to 2:40 p.m. Early release: 12:20 p.m.	Abingdon, Arlington Traditional, Campbell, Carlin Springs, Claremont, Integration Station, Long Branch, Randolph
9 a.m. – 3:50 p.m. Early release: 1:30 p.m.	Barrett, Arlington Science Focus, Ashlawn, Barcroft, Cardinal, Discovery, Drew, Glebe, Fleet, Hoffman-Boston, Innovation, Jamestown, Key, Montessori, Nottingham, Oakridge, Taylor, Tuckahoe

Middle Schools

7:50 a.m. to 2:35 p.m.
Early release: 12:05 p.m.

Dorothy Hamm, Gunston, Kenmore, Swanson, Thomas Jefferson, Williamsburg

High Schools & Programs

8:20 a.m. to 3:10 p.m.
Early release: 1 p.m.

Wakefield, Washington-Liberty, Yorktown

9 a.m. – 3:50 p.m. Early release: 1:15 p.m.	Shriver
9 a.m. – 3:50 p.m. Early release: 1:30 p.m.	H-B Woodlawn
8 a.m. – 3 p.m. Early release: 12:25 p.m.	Arlington Career Center
8:20 a.m. to 3:10 p.m. Early release: 12:35 p.m.	Langston New Directions
AM Program 8:00 a.m. – 2:50 p.m. M-F AM Early Release 12:15 p.m.PM Program 5:00 p.m. – 9:10 p.m. M-Th No PM Early Release	Arlington Community High School

Download the NEW ParentVUE App!

ParentVUE is a tool that allows parents and guardians access to their students’ grades, attendance information, and more. Parents and guardians can update contact information, check attendance, and complete the required back-to-school packet.

How do I get a ParentVUE account?
Parents must create a ParentVUE account using an Activation Code sent by their school.

When creating the account, parents will choose their own username and password, and can manage their password using the More Options/Forgot option.
Log in to ParentVUE
View more information and resources on ParentVUE

Contact your school registrar for help accessing ParentVUE.

Download the app on your iPhone or Android today!

Bus Schedules

Elementary school children waiting outside bus

Bus information for eligible students will be available in ParentVUE on Aug. 20.

Our Call Center is available to assist with any questions or concerns regarding your student’s transportation.
Contact (703) 228-6640 between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

The Call Center will be closed over Labor Day weekend. Spanish-speaking agents are available.

IMPORTANT! No bus tracking app at the start of the school year.
APS is transitioning from WheresTheBus to Stopfinder, a new bus tracking system. Stopfinder will begin as a pilot before expanding to additional schools.

Transportation services will continue as usual.

Does your student ride public transport? Check out the iRide Student Fare Free Program!

Contact Transportation

Food & Nutrition Services

Middle school students choosing healthy food in cafeteria lunch line

Free & Reduced Meals

Families must reapply every school year at myschoolapps.com.
Students who received benefits last school year have a 30-day grace period from the first day of school to reapply.
Paper applications are available online or at the Food Services Office located at 2110 Washington Blvd. 1st Floor.

Community Eligibility Program (CEP)

Students attending Abingdon, Barcroft, Barrett, Campbell, Carlin Springs, Drew, Randolph, Jefferson, Kenmore and Wakefield do not need to apply because these schools provide free meals for all students through the community eligibility provision.

Meal Prices: Families can monitor student meal accounts on MySchoolBucks. No student will be denied a meal.

Breakfast: $2.55
Elementary Lunch: $3.65
Middle & High School Lunch: $3.90

View Meal Menus online at: schools.mealviewer.com/district/ArlingtonPublicSchools

Contact Food Services

Extended Day

teacher with elementary students laughing

Extended Day provides before- and after-school care for eligible APS students and offers Special Sessions on select school holidays and days off.

New to Extended Day?

Create a New Family Account
Register your child online
Have your child’s APS Student ID number

Space is limited, and registration does not guarantee enrollment.

Learn more about Extended Day

Health Forms and Immunizations

nurse with student

You must complete all required health forms and immunizations before the start of school!

Kindergarten and other New Students need:

School Health Entrance Health Form
Vaccine Record
Tuberculosis (TB) Screening Form

Rising 7th graders need:
Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis (Tdap)
Meningococcal (MenACWY)
First dose HPV vaccine

Rising 12th graders need:
Meningococcal (MenACWY) booster (given after age 16)

For more information, contact your school’s nurse or your child’s primary care physician or visit
Arlington County School Health Requirements.

Stay Connected!

What is ParentSquare?
A communication tool where families can receive messages from the school and the division via email, text and/or mobile app in your preferred language. Families can also send two-way texts with automated translation between staff and families and more!

How do I get a ParentSquare account? Parents are automatically enrolled once they have a registered student (active) in our database. Download the app and log in with a phone number or email registered with your school.

View more information and resources about ParentSquare

For questions about ParentSquare, please email [email protected] or contact your student’s school.

Download the app for Apple IOS

Download the app for Android