Don’t look now, but back-to-school 2017 is underway in the Tampa Bay area! I can see the panic in your eyes. Summer seems shorter than ever these days, and the start of school may leave you with lots of questions.
When is the first day of school again?
Where do the kids catch the bus?
What about school lunch menus? Can I pre-pay for their lunches?
Never fear, for we at the Tampa Bay Moms Blog are here to help. We’ve compiled back-to-school information for Hillsborough, Pinellas, Polk, Pasco, Hernando, Citrus, Manatee, and Sarasota counties from each district website. You’ll find links to calendars and some other handy information that will help you and your young students prepare for that all-important first day of school. Let’s get planning!
All Counties
Florida’s Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday is Friday, August 4 through Sunday, August 6. The great news is that computers are back on the list of items eligible to be purchased tax-free for back-to-school 2017! For tips on how to tackle your back-to-school shopping list, check out this post on last year’s sales tax holiday.
Hillsborough County
- District Website: http://www.sdhc.k12.fl.us/
- First Day of School: August 10
- Last Day of School: May 25
- Download the Hillsborough schools 2017-18 calendar here.
- Early release days continue this year in Hillsborough County, with students dismissed one hour early each Monday of the school year.
- New this year: Presidents Day, February 19, 2018, is not a student holiday in Hillsborough County.
- The district website also offers a back-to-school guide with information on enrollment, bus routes, bell schedules, pre-paid lunch accounts, and more.
Pinellas County
- District Website: https://www.pcsb.org/pcsb
- First Day of School: August 10
- Last Day of School: May 24
- Download the Pinellas schools 2017-18 calendar here.
- Click on the “Families” tab for school district news and social media accounts, as well as information on school lunches, student services, and a parents’ guide.
Polk County
- District Website: http://www.polk-fl.net/default.aspx
- First Day of school: August 10
- Last Day of School: May 24
- Download the Polk schools 2017-18 calendar here.
- The “Parents” page on the district website is chock-full of info you’ll want to have on hand, from how to opt-in to the School Messenger program, to lunch menus, school athletic information, and more.
- Polk County also has a handy calendar feed you can use to download all of the important dates into your own calendar app like Outlook or Google Calendar.
- Early dismissal days: September 13, 2017; October 11, 2017; November 15, 2017; January 24, 2018; February 7, 2018; March 14, 2018; May 16, 2018
Pasco County
- District Website: http://www.pasco.k12.fl.us/
- First Day of School: August 14
- Last Day of School: May 25
- Download the Pasco schools 2017-18 calendar here.
- Pasco County Schools publishes the Parent Press Newsletter to help parents stay informed throughout the school year.
- The “Parents” page on the website contains helpful information, including a section for families new to Pasco County. The “Parent Links” sidebar is where you’ll find details on school lunches, dress codes, school hours, and more.
Hernando County
- District Website: http://www.edline.net/pages/Hernando_County_School_Board
- First Day of School: August 14
- Last Day of School: June 1
- Download the Hernando schools 2017-18 calendar here.
- The “Students and Families” page is where you’ll find helpful links like a bus stop locator, school lunch menus, free/reduced lunch application, and enrollment info.
Citrus County
- District Website: http://www.citrus.k12.fl.us/
- First Day of School: August 10
- Last Day of School: May 24
- Download the Citrus schools 2017-18 calendar here.
- You’ll need to scroll through the tabs at the top of the page to access information like transportation, school lunches, and enrollment guidelines.
Manatee County
- District Website: http://www.manateeschools.net/pages/SDMC
- First Day of School: August 10
- Last Day of School: May 29
- Download the Manatee schools 2017-18 calendar here.
- The “Parents” page has a sidebar on the right with lots of great info including registration, lunch menus, bus stops, cafeteria payments, and even a homeschool link.
Sarasota County
- District Website: http://www.sarasotacountyschools.net/
- First Day of School: August 14
- Last Day of School: May 24
- Download the Sarasota schools 2017-18 calendar here.
- The Student & Family Handbook covers everything from registration and enrollment, to activities, behavior, academics, food and nutrition services and lots, lots more.
Talk to Us!
That’s our county-by-county overview of back-to-school, Tampa Bay style. If you have other resources to add to our list, let us know in the comments. Happy Back-to-School 2017, moms and dads!