Back to School

Dear RPS Families, 

Welcome back! We are so thrilled to have you here. As we dive into the 2025-26 school year, l am excited about the fantastic journey on which our students, staff, and families are about to embark. RPS buildings are joyful places, filled with teaching, learning, and growing, and each and every one of our school communities is unique — and, we hope, a great home for you and your child. We strive for every student to feel a sense of belonging in the classroom, and for every parent to feel engaged and secure in their child’s education. Each school year is a fresh start, and we’re truly excited to start things off right!

Here is our 2025-26 Family Checklist (also available in Spanish). It includes everything you need to know and do for the upcoming school year. Please complete each item that applies to your family as soon as possible.

As always, communication between our schools and families remains the key to our success. Towards that end, I want to highlight some of the best ways to stay connected with RPS:

• RPS Direct – Visit www.rvaschools.net/rps-direct to subscribe to my newsletter!

• ParentSquare Messaging – Visit www.rvaschools.net/parentsquare to sign up for our text messaging system, which provides critical updates about your school and the division. 

• Social Media – Follow us on Instagram @rvaschools or like us on Facebook @richmondpublicschools to learn what’s happening across the Division, find out about events in your schools and community, and be inspired by the work of our students, teachers, parents, and partners.

Our staff are excited to welcome you back and get off to a year full of excitement, discovery, and love! We love you here and are honored to serve you and your family.

With great appreciation, 

Jason Kamras
RPS Superintendent

Beginning of Year Paperwork

We know that back-to-school is a busy time, and we appreciate you taking a few minutes to help us out by filling out the forms below. This year, for the first time ever, RPS is offering parents and caregivers the option to fill out Beginning of Year paperwork digitally, through ParentSquare. We recommend doing so from a desktop browser, not the app. If you would like, you may pick up paper copies at your front desk or print and download a packet below. Please note that the allergy form can only be filled out in person, as it requires a health provider's signature. Please complete each item that applies to your family as soon as possible, and return beginning-of-year paperwork by October 1.

Top 10 Tips for Day One!

1) Make sure you're on time – We love you here at RPS and look forward to welcoming every student. This year, to ease student transitions, we’ve implemented a staggered start. The first day of school for students in grades Preschool through 5, 6, and 9 is Monday, August 18. The first day for all other students — grades 7-8 and 10-12 is Tuesday, August 19. Your 2025-26 start times are as follows:

• Preschool: 7:45 am - 2:15 pm
• Elementary School: 7:45 am - 2:45 pm
• Middle School: 8:15 am - 3:15 pm
• High School: 9 am - 4 pm

Please note a few transportation-related exceptions:

• River City Middle School uses the high school schedule.
• Cardinal Elementary, Chimborazo Elementary, Elizabeth D. Redd Elementary, Frances McClenney Elementary, George W. Carver Elementary,  and Westover Hills Elementary use the middle school schedule.

Finally, our bus routes are now posted! Check them out here and find out where to catch your ride.  

2) Make a list, check it twice – Our Family Checklist will help you keep key names and information, like your child’s room number and the name of your school nurse, organized and nearby.

3) Plan ahead – The approved calendar is available on our website in English, Spanish, Arabic, Farsi, French, and Kinyarwanda. Use this to stay on top of federal holidays, school breaks, and teacher-planning days.

4) Know where to go – School bus routes will be posted on our website on Thursday, August 14. Check this page frequently, as routes may change based on enrollment. Your principal will also let you know if your journey is impacted.

5) Start strong – To keep us all safe, healthy, and in school, please make sure to stop by the pediatrician for your child’s required school immunizations as soon as possible. These immunizations are mandated by Virginia law, so please don’t delay! For a complete list of vaccination and physical clinics in our area, please visit the Virginia Department of Health website or call (804) 205-3501. 

6) Take care of business – All of our Beginning of the Year documents are available for download in our back-to-school hub. Please complete and return all required forms to your student’s school as soon as possible. Your school’s office associate can also provide you with a copy to fill out. Forms are due back by Wednesday, October 1.

7) Get in touch – ParentSquare is RPS’s new text-messaging system, and we'll be using it to share important updates throughout the school year. It’s where you will first hear about any weather closures, changes to the school calendar, and events happening at your school. Every family will need to register and activate their account, so if you're not receiving these text messages, please make sure your school has the most up-to-date contact information for your family. We’ve created step-by-step instructions in English and Spanish to assist families with the activation process. Please also visit our website at www.rvaschools.net/parentsquare for frequently asked questions and resources.

8) Communicate comfortably – We're committed to ensuring that every family, no matter what language they speak, can engage with RPS. The Family Language Line allows families to connect with an interpreter before being connected to their school. Families can find these phone numbers by looking at the bottom of their school's homepage (see the example below for River City MS).

9) Connect with us – Follow Richmond Public Schools on Instagram to catch special livestreams and stories all through the first week of school! Make sure to also follow us on Facebook.  10) Shout your school out – One of the best ways to celebrate a teacher, bus driver, custodian – anyone at RPS – is to submit a shout-out. If you encounter someone wonderful at RPS, let us know so we can celebrate them. All you need to do is send an email to shoutouts@rvaschools.net. Thank you!

Please download our Family Checklist (also available in Spanish). It includes everything you need to know and do for the upcoming school year.