🏫 Back-to-School Need-to-Know 2025–26: Harrisburg & West Shore School Districts
School Start Dates, Calendars, Supply Lists, and More—So You Don’t Have to Panic-Google It All at 10PM
Calling all parents in Harrisburg, Mechanicsburg, Camp Hill, and the West Shore—whether you’re team “backpacks already labeled” or team “what do you mean school starts next week,” this guide is your lifesaver. We’ve rounded up all the 2025–26 first day of school dates, academic calendars, supply lists, bus schedules, and orientation nights for Cumberland and Dauphin County school districts, so you can spend less time deciphering PDFs and more time savoring that last summer popsicle.
From Central Dauphin to West Shore, Cumberland Valley to Harrisburg City, every public district is included. We even flagged the sneak peeks, early dismissals, and “oh-no-that’s-this-weekend” registration deadlines.
Because no one wants to miss Kindergarten Preview Night...again.
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Thanks to Valhallan, we’re able to help you navigate school calendars, supply lists, and that inevitable panic when your kid suddenly needs 27 glue sticks at 9PM.
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📍 Cumberland County
| District | First Day | Orientation / Open Houses | Important Links | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camp Hill SD | Thu, Aug 21 | 8/18 Back to School Night K-2 , 8/19 B2S Night 3-5, 8/28 middle/high B2S Night | District Calendar | |
| Cumberland Valley SD | Tue, Aug 19 | 8/14 Kindergarten/New student Orientation, 9/3 Back to School Night | District Calendar | |
| East Pennsboro SD | Wed, Aug 20 | 8/14 MS Info Night, 8/18 Elem Back to School Night, 8/21 Fall Sports Parade & Bonfire, 8/27 HS Back to School Night, | District Calendar | |
| Mechanicsburg Area SD | K–3 Staggered start 8/19-8/20; Gr 4–12 8/20 | Back to School Resource Center District Calendar | ||
| West Shore SD | Tue, Aug 26 | Back to School Nights vary by grade and building, but most are the week of 8/18 for younger students and the week of 8/25 for older students. Check the full calendar HERE | District Calendar/School Day Schedules Academic Calendar Family Guide | |
| Cumberland–Perry CTC | Aligned with sending districts (mid-Aug) | Orientation: check About → Student Resources |
📍 Dauphin County
| District | First Day | Orientation / Open Houses | Important Links | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Dauphin SD | Tue, Sep 2 | Back to School Nights and Orientations vary by grade and building. Details can be found here | District Calendar Important news and events | |
| Harrisburg City SD | Tue, Sep 2 | Most Open Houses/Back to school Nights are on 8/28 but check website for additional info | Family Handbook District Calendar | |
| Lower Dauphin SD | Mon, Aug 25 | Back to school night 8/27 | District Calendar | |
| Susquehanna Township SD | Mon, Aug 18 | District Calendar | ||
| Dauphin County Tech School | Mon, Aug 25 | New Student Orientation 8/20 | PDF Calendar |
🤖 This guide was compiled with the help of artificial intelligence—because sleep-deprived parents deserve robot assistants too. We’ve double-clicked, cross-referenced, and spell-checked like caffeinated raccoons in a library, but please still double-check official school calendars and websites for the most accurate and up-to-date info. Schedules can shift, links can change, and districts sometimes rearrange events like a toddler hiding car keys. You’ve been warned. 😅
