Bellevue School District students in grades 1 through 12 head back to class Wednesday, Sept. 2, and the first day is also an early-release Wednesday, meaning shorter hours at every school.
Kindergartners start Sept. 8. Preschoolers follow Sept. 9. The Evergreen Transition Program also begins Sept. 8, after the district moved its start date from Sept. 2 in a June 12 update.
The district's Aug. 27 newsletter urged families to review back-to-school resources before day one. The district highlighted several changes for the new year.
Buses and getting there
Fall 2026 bus routes are posted on the district's transportation page. BSD has also rolled out Stopfinder, a bus-arrival tracking tool. Invitation emails come from [email protected] and may land in spam folders, according to the City of Bellevue's back-to-school guide. Families with route questions can email [email protected].
The Bellevue SchoolPool program, a collaboration between the city, King County Metro and the district, offers carpooling, biking and walking resources for families who skip the bus.
Meals and costs
BSD does not require students to purchase school supplies. If a school recommends optional items, it will notify families directly.
Families must reapply each year for free and reduced-price meal benefits through the district's online application.
Those who qualified last year keep their eligibility for the first 30 school days. Six schools offer breakfast and lunch at no cost for all students: Ardmore, Highland, Lake Hills, Phantom Lake, Sherwood Forest and Stevenson. Students eligible for reduced-price meals eat at no cost thanks to state funding. BSD Nutrition Services can answer questions at 425-456-4507 or [email protected].
New childcare provider
Boys & Girls Clubs of Bellevue is now the sole provider of before- and after-school care at every BSD elementary school, replacing the previous arrangement that included Right At School. The organization serves more than 18,000 youth annually, according to a district announcement.
Kellea Taylor, BSD's director of schools and preschool, said in the announcement that the partnership is "ensuring equitable access to high-quality before and after school care at every BSD elementary school."
Health and paperwork
Students must be current on required childhood vaccines or have exemption paperwork on file. Those with life-threatening health conditions need medication and healthcare orders at the school on the first day or they will be sent home, according to the district's back-to-school page.
Families should also complete the annual student data verification in Synergy ParentVUE to confirm emergency contacts and language preferences.
What's next
BSD is promoting a "First Day, Every Day" attendance campaign, noting that first-day attendance helps schools secure resources for the year. School start and dismissal times vary by building and are listed on the district website. The Welcome Center at 12011 NE 1st St. is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for enrollment questions: 425-456-4235 or [email protected].
