Back to School Hub - 2025-26

Academic Calendar 2025-26

Durango School District's 2025-26 Academic Calendar contains important information about the school year: Fall, Winter, and Spring breaks; teacher Professional Development dates; holidays; conference days; and more.

Below are key dates from the 2025-26 Academic Calendar. You may also view a printable version of the calendar on the district's Academic Calendar web page.

School websites

Each school has a website with information specific to that school. These websites are available via the buttons below.

Registration

All students, new and returning, need to be registered for school before the start of the school year. As you follow the online registration process, please note that all registrations and enrollments will be processed beginning Monday, July 28, when school staff return from summer break. The one exception to this relates to Durango High School registrations and enrollments, which are processed throughout the summer. Please visit our registration pages to learn more.

Immunizations

Every child attending a Durango School District school or childcare facility must have a complete immunization record or exemption submitted to their school, or the child will be unable to attend school until they are compliant with this state law. If you plan to have a Certificate of Nonmedical Exemption for your child, please note that the date of the exemption must be on or after July 1, 2025, for the 2025-26 school year.

Bell schedules

Some of our school start and end times will shift slightly in 2025-26, and many bus routes will see some changes in pickup and drop-off times due to these adjustments.To view your school's bell schedule, please click the button below.

Fall Check-in/Meet the Teacher dates

Each fall right before school starts, all Durango School District schools host a combined Fall Check-in/Meet the Teacher event. It's a wonderful opportunity for students and parents to meet their teachers and school staff, explore their new classrooms, drop off school supplies, turn in any outstanding paperwork, and get all their remaining questions answered. 

Elementary schools (Pre-K through fifth grade)

• Animas Valley Elementary: Monday, August 18; 8:00-9:00 a.m.

• Florida Mesa Elementary: Monday, August 18; 8:00-9:00 a.m.

• Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary 

  • Meet the Teacher: Monday, August 18; 8:00-10:00 a.m. (Teachers will only be available to meet with families from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m., due to Professional Development events that day.)

  • Fall Check-in: Monday, August 18; 8:00-1:00 p.m.

• Needham Elementary: Monday, August 18; 9:00-10:30 a.m.

• Park Elementary: Monday, August 18; 8:30-10:30 a.m.

• Riverview Elementary: Monday, August 18; 9:00-10:00 a.m.

• Sunnyside Elementary: Monday, August 18; 8:00-9:30 a.m.

Middle schools (Sixth through eighth grades)

• Escalante Middle School: Thursday, August 14, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

• Miller Middle School: Friday, August 15

• • Sixth Grade: 8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

  • Grades 7 and 8: 12:30-3:00 p.m.

High schools (Ninth through twelfth grades)

• Big Picture High School: Monday, August 18; 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

• Durango High School

  • Grades 10, 11, and 12: Thursday, August 14, 12:00-4:00 p.m. (School pictures will be taken at this time.)

  • Demon Day Freshman Orientation: Friday, August 15; 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. (Please plan to attend the full day. Lunch will be provided. School pictures will be taken after orientation.)

Optional Chromebook insurance policy for students in grades 6-12

School bus registration: Enroll now for 2025-26

If your student plans to ride the bus this fall, please take action soon.

Annual registration required

Each student must be registered every school year — even if they rode the bus last year. Transportation registration is now open for the 2025-26 school year.

• Returning Students: Register by July 15, 2025, to receive routing details and be eligible to ride the bus on the first day of school.

• New Students: Register as soon as possible to improve the likelihood of routing being ready in time. Last-minute registrations will be processed as quickly as possible, but may not be ready by the first day of school.

Additional reminders

After-school programs

Food service

All meals will remain free for all students through December 2025. Participation in the Healthy School Meals for All program exceeded expectations, and Colorado is unable to continue funding the program without an increase in taxpayer contributions. A ballot measure will be introduced in November 2025 to continue funding for the Healthy School Meals for All program.

It’s still important for households to provide income information when requested. Gathering this information allows Durango School District to receive state and federal funding. These funds go directly to schools to help cover the cost of meals and support after-school activities and other nutritional programs for students. Plus, qualifying households may be eligible to receive Summer EBT benefits, receive discounted school fees, class materials, bus passes, utilities support, and more.

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Stay connected

The Communications team shares information with many different people: staff, students, families, community members, and media. 

Weekly newsletter for families

Every Friday afternoon, we send out a digital Community Update e-newsletter with the latest updates, including information on upcoming events and activities. Each family's primary contact (as designated in Infinite Campus) is automatically subscribed to Community Update. However, additional family members may subscribe to the newsletter by completing this form.  

Emergency messaging

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Fall sports

The deadline to register for fall sports is August 4, 2025. Online registration is required to participate in all Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) sanctioned sports and activities at Durango High School (DHS): Football, Volleyball, Softball, XC, Boys Soccer, Boys Golf, Boys Tennis, or Dance/Cheer.

In order to try out or practice, the following items must be completed:

• Complete the online registration form.

• A current physical with an authorized physician’s signature. (Physicals are valid for one full year from the signed date.

Frequently asked questions

Q: What's the process for registering my child as a student in Durango School District and enrolling them in one of the district's schools?

A: Durango School District uses an online registration and enrollment process. For full details, please visit the district's Registration web page.

Q: How do I start the registration process?

Links to online registration are available on the district's Registration web page. You may also navigate to online registration by clicking on the option below that best describes your family:

• Returning Durango School District family

• New family (never before registered with Durango School District)

• New or returning family with a preschool student

Q: I don't have an Infinite Campus password. Whom should I contact?

A: To request a password for Infinite Campus, please email Diana Montoya-Scott, Data Specialist.

Q: I'm having technical trouble with online registration. How do I get help?

Q: I just moved here. How do I know which school my child will attend?

A: To locate your school of residence, please use our School Boundary Map. Simply enter your street address, city, and state into the address field to find your child's school. (This will be the school that you should request on your online application.)

Q: How do I enroll my child in a school other than our assigned school of residence?

A: District policy allows students to attend any school of their choice on a space-available, first-come, first-served basis through the Open Enrollment process. For full details on Open Enrollment and the link to the Open Enrollment request form, please visit the district's Open Enrollment web page.

Q: I completed online registration. How do I know if you received it?

A: When online registration is successful, you will receive an automatic confirmation email from [email protected] to the primary contact email you listed in Infinite Campus. This email will contain your Application Number, a unique code that you should keep handy during the registration/enrollment process.

Q: I received the confirmation email after I registered. When will I hear back from my child’s school?

A: School staff will begin processing online registrations submitted over the summer beginning Monday, July 28. School families may expect to hear back from their child's school later that week, or during the first week of August at the latest.

Q: I have more questions. Whom should I contact?

A: Staff members are available over the summer to answer your questions. Please see "For more information" below for contact information.

For more information