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Welcome to the 2026-27 school year!

students walking to school

We’re excited to welcome our traditional calendar families back for the 2026-27 school year! Please review these important updates and resources to support your family. We recommend keeping it handy to reference as needed.

Partnering for a successful school year

Special message from Board Chair Tyler Swanson

The Chair of the Wake County Board of Education has prepared a special message for all families, welcoming everyone to a new school year filled with learning and growth. Watch the video to hear about some of the priorities our district will be focusing on to help students thrive.

Supporting success together: Review the Student and Family Handbook online

The Student and Family Handbook outlines expectations for student behavior at school, on the bus, and during school-sponsored events. Families should review the handbook to ensure a safe, respectful, and successful school experience. Printed copies will not be distributed this year. Review the handbook.

Stay connected

Schools need up-to-date contact information for all families. Contact your school’s data manager to update your information. If you did not receive this message as a text, consider opting in for our text messages by texting YES to 67587.

Continue making an impact: Renew your volunteer status 

If you volunteered with us during the 2025-26 school year, the volunteer renewal process for the 2026-27 school year is quick and easy! The renewal window is open through Oct. 31. Want to volunteer for the first time? We’d love to have you! Learn more.

Supporting the whole student

School is better when you're here

A new school year brings new opportunities to learn, explore interests, build friendships, and discover new strengths. We want every student to feel welcome from the very first day. School is where students take part in lessons, activities, conversations, and experiences that help them grow. While missing a day here or there may not seem significant, those missed days can add up quickly. Students can miss important instruction, time with teachers and classmates, and moments that help them feel engaged in school life. Regular attendance is one of the most important ways families can support student success.

We look forward to working with families to help every student make the most of the year ahead.

Find support for your child’s well-being

Supporting students’ social-emotional and behavioral health is a priority across all our schools. Every student has access to dedicated professionals, including:

If you have concerns about your child or want to learn more about the support available, reach out to your child’s teacher or to a student support services team member at your child’s school. Find support.

Middle and high schools: Required safety awareness videos to be shown during first week of school

These age-appropriate videos, required by state law, are designed to educate students about inappropriate behavior and adult misconduct in school settings, to ensure students know skills to stay safe, and to help them identify trusted adults they can turn to for help. Contact your school with questions or if you do not want your child to participate. Learn more. 

NC immunization and health assessment requirements

North Carolina law requires students to meet immunization and health assessment requirements when entering school. See a list of immunizations and health assessment information required for kindergarten through 12th grade school attendance. 

Find back-to-school vaccine clinics below:

Additional information on vaccine-preventable diseases and immunizations for families is available on the NC Department of Health and Human Services website.

Community health resources for families

Help your child start the school year healthy and ready to learn. Families can find local health resources below.

Health information for families

Find important health information for students and families below.

What you need to know about student technology

Cellphone policy supports student focus and well-being

All student personal devices, including cellphones and smartwatches, must be turned off and stored away during instructional time. Find more information and a full cellphone policy overview.

Student Chromebook updates for 2026-27

Students in third, sixth, and ninth grades will receive a new assigned Chromebook and charger at the beginning of the 2026-27 school year. Students in fourth, fifth, seventh, eighth, 10th, 11th, and 12th grades will continue using their currently assigned Chromebook, even if they transfer to another WCPSS school. Kindergarten, first, and second grade students will have access to classroom Chromebooks that stay at school. Students with assigned devices must follow the Student Device Care and Use Guidelines and report any issues directly to their school. Learn more. 

Explore technology resources for families

Looking for information about student technology use? Find helpful resources, required forms, and important policies, including how we work to keep students safe and supported while learning online. Explore our technology site. 

WakeID Portal: New and improved!

The WakeID Portal has been updated and features a simplified, easy-to-use layout. Applications have been automatically added to the portal based on grade level. For questions, contact your student’s teacher. View support resources.

What to expect with school transportation this year

On the move: Bus route information

Registered traditional calendar bus riders should have received an email last Friday, Aug. 14, with detailed information about their bus stops and estimated pick-up and drop-off times. Families can also access bus route details in Campus Parent via Infinite Campus. 

Real-time bus updates for families

Our bus delay notification system returns this school year, allowing parents to receive real-time updates in multiple ways when their child’s bus is delayed. 

Help keep every bus ride safe

As the new school year begins, please take a few minutes to review bus behavior expectations with your student. Remind them to follow the driver's instructions, stay seated, keep their hands to themselves, use a quiet voice, and be at the bus stop 10 minutes before pick-up time. Students who do not follow safety rules may lose their bus riding privileges, particularly for serious behaviors such as fighting, bullying, threats, or bringing prohibited items onto the bus. 

Improvements to special education transportation

We are making several enhancements for the 2026-27 school year. These include redesigning routes for greater efficiency, expanding our partnerships with transportation vendors, strengthening vendor accountability and performance monitoring, and enhancing collaboration between district staff and transportation providers to deliver more reliable service for students and families.

Questions? Contact Transportation Customer Service at 919-805-3030 and select option 5, or submit an inquiry through the Transportation request form.

Working together for a safe school community

Increasing safety with the Standard Response Protocol

The Standard Response Protocol (SRP) is a new set of emergency procedures taking effect this school year. The SRP is based on an all-hazards approach that uses five Actions (Hold, Secure, Lockdown

Evacuate and Shelter) with common language, giving families a clearer understanding of how staff are keeping their children safe when security concerns do arise. These guidelines are replacing our previous Lockdown Codes (Code Red, Code Yellow, Code Green). Learn more.

Keep school check-ins fast and easy 

To continue providing safe learning environments, all schools use a digital Visitor Management System. The system verifies all school visitors and checks the Sex Offender Registry for potential matches. View details of what to expect when visiting your child’s school.

If you see something, say something

Students, staff, and families can report safety concerns at any time.

  • Middle and high school students and families may use the Say Something application, available anytime, day or night.
  • You may also call the WCPSS Tip Line at 919-856-1911 to share any urgent safety concerns.

Learn more about reporting a safety concern. 

Nourishing bodies, fueling bright minds

School meal price increase

Delicious, nourishing meals are part of every school day! Beginning this school year, there is a $0.25 increase in meal prices to help cover rising costs for food, supplies, and staff wages and benefits.

Here’s what families can expect:

  • Elementary schools: Breakfast $2.25 | Lunch $4.00
  • Middle and high schools: Breakfast $2.50 | Lunch $4.25

Our menus offer a variety of tasty, healthy breakfasts and lunches students can choose from every day including oven-baking foods instead of frying, fresh local produce, whole grains, and lower-sugar snacks. Meals meet all state and federal nutrition guidelines, as well as the district’s wellness policy. We’re proud to serve food that fuels learning and supports well-being. Learn more. 

53 schools offering free breakfast and lunch for all students

Thanks to the USDA’s Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), students at participating schools can enjoy nutritious meals at no cost, with no need for families to fill out a meal benefits application. Learn more about CEP.

19 schools selected to participate in the Universal Breakfast Program

Nineteen schools have been selected to participate in the Wake County-funded Universal Breakfast Program for 2026-27, which provides breakfast at no cost to all students at participating schools. Families should still complete a Free and Reduced-Price Meal application, as lunch prices will continue to be based on each student’s meal benefit eligibility. Learn more.

Apply for free and reduced-price school meals

To receive free or reduced-price meals for the 2026-27 school year, families must submit a meal benefits application online at MySchoolApps.com. For families who completed the 2025-26 meal benefits application, the benefit continues for their student's first 30 school days of the 2026-27 school year. For every student who turns in the free and reduced lunch application and qualifies, the school receives federal funds that benefit the students and teachers at the school. Check out school menus on Mealviewer.

Unclaimed school meal balances

Students who graduated or exited the district during the 2025-26 school year and left funds in their meal account may request a refund. The Refund Form must be submitted by Sept. 1, or the funds will be donated to Child Nutrition Services to be used to support the district's school meal program for students. If you need assistance, contact Child Nutrition Services at 919-856-2918. Learn more about refunds.