Back to School Hub (2026-27)
Our 2026-27 Back to School Hub compiles all the essential information families need to get ready for the new school year. You’ll find details on enrollment, school start dates, supply lists, transportation options, bell schedules, and more.
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 Thursday, July 30, 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.
Fall Check-in/Meet the Teacher dates
Each fall right before school starts, all Durango School District schools host Fall Check-in and Meet the Teacher events, either separately or as a combined 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)
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Animas Valley Elementary: Date/time TBD
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Florida Mesa Elementary: Date/time TBD
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Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary
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Fall Check-in: Thursday, August 20; 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
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Meet the Teacher: Monday, August 24; 8:30-10:30 a.m.
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Needham Elementary: Date/time TBD
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Park Elementary:
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Meet the Teacher: Monday, August 24; 2:30-3:30 p.m. (Note: If you have enrollment questions, please stop by the front office after this event.)
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Riverview Elementary: Monday, August 24; 2:30-3:30 p.m.
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Sunnyside Elementary: Date/time TBD
Middle schools (Sixth through eighth grades)
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Escalante Middle School: Thursday, August 20; 5:30-6:30 p.m.
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Miller Middle School: Monday, August 24
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Sixth Grade: Jump Start at 8-11 a.m. / Tour at 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
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Grades 7 and 8: Drop in for schedules between 12:30-3:30 p.m.
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High schools (Ninth through twelfth grades)
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Durango Big Picture High School: Monday, August 24; 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
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Durango High School
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All Grades (9-12): Thursday, August 20, 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. (This is a drop-in style event where students may complete all of their check-in tasks for the school year. Location: DHS Commons and Library)
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Demon Day Freshman Orientation: Friday, August 21; 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.)
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Supply lists
Getting the right school supplies for your elementary or middle school student helps set them up for success in the new school year. Click your school's name below to see the supply list. (Please note that some schools are still working on their 2026-27 supply lists, and will be uploading them to their Supply List webpage soon.)
Note about high schools: Due to the vast array of classes available to our high school students and how supply needs can vary from class to class, high schoolers will be informed of any necessary supplies by their teachers after school begins.
School bus registration: Changes for 2026-27
The DSD Transportation Department has made a few changes to the way bus registrations are being collected for 2026-27. During the online registration process, you have the chance to fill out the 2026-27 Bus Registration Form. Complete the form ONLY if your student's transportation needs will change between this year and next, as follows:
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New to the district
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Changing schools
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New or changed transportation needs
Transportation staff will be processing changes and building updated routes over the summer so routes are ready before school starts.
Please register by July 15
We encourage all families to register for the bus by July 15, 2026, to receive routing details and be eligible to ride the bus on the first day of school. If you are registering after this date, please register as early as you can before the start of school. Last-minute registrations will be processed as quickly as possible, but may not be ready by the first day of school.
Most returning families do NOT need to complete the form
If you are a returning family whose bus-riding needs will not change between this school year and next (same school and same home address), you only need to confirm your student's route in Stopfinder. Do not complete the 2026-27 Bus Registration Form.
Pre-K students: Special procedures
Pre-K students are not allowed on the bus for the first week of school. All pre-K students must be weighed in at the school and approved to ride. Pre-K students riding the bus who require a car seat must be placed in the car seat by a parent or guardian.
Additional reminders
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A student ID is required to ride the bus.
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Students must be at their assigned stop 5 minutes before the scheduled stop time.
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Bus routes depend on early registration and student volume.
We appreciate your prompt attention so we can help ensure a smooth and safe start to the 2026-27 school year!
Don't miss important updates: Download the Stopfinder app
Durango School District uses the Stopfinder app to communicate with bus-riding families. This free app allows you to:
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Track your student’s bus in real time
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Receive route changes or delay notifications
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Stay informed about transportation updates
Families must download the Stopfinder app to receive messages. Without it, we cannot reach you with important updates.
Need a Stopfinder account?
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New DSD Families: If you are a new Stopfinder user, you may not be able to log in to Stopfinder immediately. Rather, the DSD Transportation Department will create a Stopfinder account for you, and you will receive an email invitation to log in once bus transportation details for 2026-27 have been finalized and uploaded to the app.
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Returning DSD Families: If you are a returning DSD family and need help locating or logging into your Stopfinder account, please email the DSD Transportation Department with the following details:
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Parent/guardian name
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Student name
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Request for a Stopfinder invite
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Positive Behavioral Interventions & Support on the school bus
To help ensure every bus ride is safe, welcoming, and predictable, our Transportation team uses the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) framework, which focuses on teaching and rewarding good habits. PBIS is a proven, community-focused approach that helps our drivers and students work as a team.
On our buses, PBIS means we:
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Set Clear Rules: We clearly define what respect and safety look like on the road.
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Teach Good Habits: Drivers guide students on how to behave safely.
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Focus on Prevention: We stop problem behaviors before they start by creating a calm, friendly environment.
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Celebrate Success: We recognize and praise students who follow the rules and help others.
How families can help
Safety is a community effort, and we need our DSD families to partner with us. Before the school year begins, please sit down with your student to review our bus rider guidelines. Talking about these expectations at home helps your child feel confident and prepared for a successful school year.
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Academic Calendar 2026-27
Durango School District's 2026-27 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 2026-27 Academic Calendar. You may also view a printable version of the calendar on the district's Academic Calendar web page.
Start and end dates
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First Day of School: August 25, 2026
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Last Day of School: May 28, 2027 (This date may be adjusted based on potential Snow Day Make-Up Days.)
Click here to view more key dates from the 2026-27 Academic Calendar
Bell schedules
School start and end times will remain the same in 2026-27. To view your school's bell schedule, please click the button below.
Click here to view the 2026-27 bell schedule
School websites
Each school has a website with information specific to that school. These websites are available via the buttons below.
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. The immunization record must be from the child's healthcare provider or other immunization provider, and must show that the child is up-to-date on all school-required vaccines, according to their age.
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, 2026, for the 2026-27 school year.
Starting in the 2026-27 school year, Colorado law will require students to have one dose of Tdap vaccine before their first day of seventh grade.
Chromebook insurance policy for students in grades 6-12
This year, Durango School District will continue using our current fleet of student devices. Chromebook insurance is now automatically included for all students in grades 6-12 at no additional cost.
After-school programs
Durango School District, in partnership with Boys and Girls Club of La Plata County, offers after-school programs through The Club@ Durango Schools.
To learn more about the programs we offer, please follow the link below.
Food service
On November 4, 2025, Colorado voters passed Propositions LL and MM, allowing school nutrition programs to continue offering all meals free of charge for all students. This means that breakfast and lunch will still be free for all Durango School District students for the 2026-27 school year and beyond.
On August 20, 2024, Durango School District began operating the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) at all schools except for Durango High School and Shared School. CEP is a program that allows us to utilize data from SNAP, Medicaid, and other benefit programs to determine school meal eligibility, without the need to collect household income information.
We will no longer be collecting applications for meal benefits, with the exception of Durango High School and Shared School.
However, it’s still important for households to provide income information by completing a Combo Form 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, discounted school fees, class materials, bus passes, utilities support, and more.
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Stay connected
The Durango School District 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 and secondary contact (as designated in Infinite Campus) are automatically subscribed to Community Update. However, additional family members may subscribe to the newsletter by completing this form.
Emergency messaging
During emergencies and Snow Day alerts, Communications shares information through the district's phone, text, and email mass-notification system. If you are not receiving messages, or wish to update your contact information, please follow these steps:
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Families: Make sure your contact information is correct in Infinite Campus.
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Staff: Check that your contact information is correct in Employee Access.
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To receive phone calls: Call 855-502-7867 from the phone line you wish to receive calls and follow the prompts.
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To receive text messages: Depending on the nature of the alert, DSD texts will come from one of two phone numbers: 970-427-7160 and 970-414-3556.
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Text "START" to both of those phone numbers from the phone you wish to receive texts. This will subscribe you to emergency text messages from the district.
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If you text "STOP" to any emergency message from the district, you will no longer receive any messages from that phone number. (You can resubscribe by texting "START" to the same phone number.)
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Need further assistance? If you have followed the steps above and still are not receiving DSD emergency alerts, please fill out the DSD Communication Issue Report form so we can troubleshoot the issue.
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Fall sports
The deadlines to register for 2026-27 fall sports are as follows:
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Monday, July 27, 2026: Registration deadline for Football and Golf
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August 3, 2026: Registration deadline for Cross-Country, Boys Tennis, Softball, Boys Soccer, Volleyball, Cheerleading, and Dance
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, Cross-Country, Boys Soccer, Boys Golf, Boys Tennis, Cheerleading, and Dance.
In order to try out or practice, the following items must be completed:
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The online registration form.
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A current physical with an authorized physician’s signature. (Physicals are valid for one full year from the signed date.)
Free athletics physicals — July 27-29
For 2026-27 student-athletes, Mercy Sports Medicine will be providing free athletics physicals at the Impact Career Innovation Center (2410 Main Ave., on the DHS Campus) on the following dates:
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Monday, July 27, 2-6 p.m.
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Tuesday, July 28, 2-6 p.m.
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Wednesday, July 29, 2-6 p.m.
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:
Q: I don’t have an Infinite Campus account. How do I request one?
A: While all DSD students are assigned an Infinite Campus Student Portal account during the online registration process, Infinite Campus Parent Portal accounts must be created separately by DSD staff. To request a Parent Portal account, please complete and submit this form.
Q: I need help resetting my Infinite Campus password. What should I do?
A: To reset your Infinite Campus password, please click the "Forgot Password?" button on the Infinite Campus login page and follow the prompts. Password-reset information will be sent to the email address of the primary contact you listed in your Infinite Campus account. If you need further assistance with resetting your password, please submit an Infinite Campus password-reset request.
Q: I'm having technical trouble with online registration. How do I get help?
A: For help troubleshooting the online registration process, please email Eoin Morgan, Data Specialist.
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 Thursday, July 30. School families may expect to hear back from their child's school 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
If you have questions that are not answered by the information on this page, please reach out to the following staff members, who are listed according to their area of expertise:
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Pre-K: Contact Jennifer Baufield at [email protected] or 970-247-5411, ext.1468
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Grades K-8: Contact Erin Henthorn at [email protected] or 970-247-5411, ext. 1461
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Grades 9-12
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Durango Big Picture High School: Contact Erin Henthorn at [email protected] or 970-247-5411, ext. 1461
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Durango High School: Contact Becky Connell at [email protected] or 970-259-1630, ext. 2311
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Online Registration
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General Registration Questions: Contact Erin Henthorn at [email protected] or 970-247-5411, ext. 1461
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Technical Assistance With Registration: Contact Eoin Morgan at [email protected] or 970-247-5411, ext. 1423
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