As August continues, it's almost time to trade relaxing on one of the Ocean State's beaches for preparing school supplies – but when exactly does school start?
Rhode Island's Department of Education states that the first day of school cannot be later than the first Thursday following Labor Day, which falls on Sept. 4 this year. However, the state's multiple school districts vary in whether they start right before or right after the Sept. 1 holiday.
If you're wondering which side of Labor Day you or your children fall on, look no more. Here is a comprehensive list of start dates for all public school districts in the state, in alphabetical order.

Barrington
Aug. 27 is the first day for all Barrington Public Schools.
Bristol-Warren
Bristol-Warren Regional School District's first day is Sept. 2.
Burrillville
Grades 1-12 at Burrillville Public Schools start on Aug. 27. After orientation on Sept. 2, kindergarten students with last names starting with A-L start Sept. 3, and last names M-Z start Sept. 4.
Central Falls
The Central Falls Schools District's first day of school is Aug. 27.
Chariho
Aug. 27 marks the first day for the Chariho Regional School District.
Coventry
At Coventry Public Schools, students in pre-K and grades 1-5, 6 and 9 start on Aug. 27, and all other students grades 1-12 start Aug. 28. Kindergarten at all schools starts on Sept. 2.
Cranston
Students in grades K, 1, 6 and 9 start on Aug. 28 in the Cranston Public School District, and all other students start the following day, Aug. 29.
Cumberland
The Cumberland School Department's first day is Sept. 2 for students in grades 1-9 and Sept. 3 for all other grades pre-K through 12.
East Greenwich
Grades 1-12 at the East Greenwich Public Schools start on Aug. 27, and kindergarten starts on Sept. 2.
East Providence
Schools in the East Providence School District begin on Aug. 27 for grades pre-K, 1-6 and 9; Aug. 28 for grades 7-8 and 10-12; and Sept. 2 for kindergarten.
Exeter-West Greenwich
In the Exeter-West Greenwich Regional School District, grades 1-9 start Aug. 27, while pre-K and grades 10-12 start Aug. 28. Kindergarten starts Sept. 3 after kindergarten orientation on Sept. 2.
Foster
Capt. Isaac Paine Elementary School of the Foster School District begins on Aug. 27.
Foster-Glocester
Foster-Glocester Regional School District starts on Aug. 27 for grades 6 and 9 and Aug. 28 for all other grades.
Glocester
Aug. 27 is the first day for the Glocester School District.
Jamestown
Grades K-8 in the Jamestown School Department begin on Sept. 2, and pre-K begins on Sept. 3.
Johnston
All schools in the Johnston Public School District start on Aug. 27.
Lincoln
The Lincoln Public School District set the first day as Aug. 27 for grades pre-K and 1-9, Aug. 28 for grades 10-12 and Sept. 2 for kindergarten.
Little Compton
Aug. 27 marks the first day for the Little Compton School Department.
Middletown
At the Middletown Public Schools, grades 1-12 start on Aug. 27, while pre-K and kindergarten have a soft start from Aug. 28 through Sept. 5.
Narragansett
All students in the Narragansett School System will start the school year on Sept. 2.
Newport
Newport Public Schools start on Sept. 3 for grades 1-12. Pre-K and kindergarten will start on Sept. 8 after a soft start, by appointment, from Sept. 3-5.
New Shoreham
The Block Island School District starts on Sept. 3 for all students in grades K-12.
North Kingstown
Grades 1-9 start on Sept. 2, and grades 10-12 start Sept. 3 in the North Kingstown School Department. Pre-K and kindergarten will have orientation on Sept. 2 and officially start on Sept. 3.
North Providence
In the North Providence School Department, grades pre-K through 9 start Sept. 2, and grades 10-12 start Sept. 3.
North Smithfield
Aug. 27 is the first day for North Smithfield Public Schools. Preschool starts on Sept. 2.
Pawtucket
The Pawtucket School Department starts on Aug. 27.
Portsmouth
Grades K, 5 and 9 in the Portsmouth School Department start on Aug. 27, and all other grades start on Aug. 28.
Providence
The Providence Public School District begins on Aug. 27.
Scituate
Scituate Public Schoolsstart on Aug. 26.
Smithfield
All Smithfield Public Schools start on Aug. 26.
South Kingstown
For South Kingstown Public Schools, kindergarten and grades 6 and 9 start on Sept. 2, while all other grades start on Sept. 3.
Tiverton
Tiverton Public Schools set Aug. 28 as the first day for all schools.
Warwick
All students at Warwick Public Schools begin on Aug. 28.
Westerly
Westerly Public Schools start on Sept. 2 for grades 1-12 and Sept. 8 for kindergarten.
West Warwick
Grades 1-12 at West Warwick Public Schools start Aug. 26. Kindergarten has orientation on Aug. 26 and will start Aug. 27, along with pre-K.
Woonsocket
In the Woonsocket Education Department, grades 1-9 begin on Aug. 26, and grades 10-12 on Aug. 27. Kindergarteners whose last names start with A-L begin on Aug. 26, and last names M-Z start Aug. 27.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: 2025 Start Dates for RI Public Schools: See the list by district
Comments