Hailey
As summer break comes to an end, students and teachers across the Kansas City area are getting ready to head back to the classroom. Whether you’re in Missouri or Kansas, it’s important to know when your school district starts the new academic year.
To help you plan better, we’ve listed the start dates for each district. Some students begin earlier than others, and many schools stagger start times by grade.
Let’s look at when schools open this August 2025 in the Kansas City metro area.
First Day of School – Who Starts First?
Monday, August 11, 2025
- Leavenworth Unified School District – All Grades
- Shawnee Mission School District – Grades 1–7, 9 (Early dismissal for grades 1–6)
- Turner School District – Grades 1–7, 9 (Early dismissal)
Tuesday, August 12, 2025
- Basehor-Linwood School District – Pre-K to 6, and 9th grade
- Ottawa School District – Grades 1–6, 9, and new students (Half day)
- Shawnee Mission School District – Grades 8, 10–12
- Turner School District – All Grades (K–6 have early dismissal)
Mid-August Start Dates – More Districts Return
Wednesday, August 13, 2025
- Basehor-Linwood – Grades 7, 8, 10–12
- Blue Valley School District – All Grades
- De Soto School District – K–6, Grade 9 (Half day)
- Gardner-Edgerton – Grades K–8, 9
- Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools – K–5, 6, 9
- Lansing School District – K–6, 9
- Olathe Public Schools – K–5, 6, 9 (Half day)
- Ottawa School District – All Grades
- Piper School District – All Grades
- Shawnee Mission – Pre-K and Kindergarten
- Spring Hill School District – Pre-K to Grade 9
Thursday, August 14, 2025
- Bonner Springs School District – All Grades
- De Soto – All Grades
- Eudora – All Grades
- Gardner-Edgerton – Pre-K, Grades 10–12
- Kansas City, Kansas – All Grades
- Lansing – Grades 7, 8, 10–12
- Louisburg School District – All Grades
- Olathe Public Schools – All Grades
- Spring Hill – Grades 10–12
Week of August 18 – Most Missouri Schools Resume
Monday, August 18, 2025
- Belton 124 School District – All Grades
- Center School District – All Grades (Early release)
- East Lynne School District – All Grades
- Harrisonville Schools – All Grades
- Hickman Mills C-1 – All Grades
- Independence School District – All Grades
- Kansas City Public Schools (MO) – All Grades
- North Platte County – All Grades
- Park Hill School District – All Grades
Tuesday, August 19, 2025
- Blue Springs School District – All Grades
- Drexel – All Grades
- Fort Osage – All Grades
- Grain Valley – All Grades
- Grandview – All Grades
- Kearney School District – All Grades
- Midway – All Grades
- North Kansas City Schools – All Grades
- Platte County R-III – All Grades
- Pleasant Hill – All Grades
- Raymore-Peculiar – All Grades
- Smithville – All Grades
- Strasburg C-3 – All Grades
Late August Start Dates
Wednesday, August 20, 2025
- Archie School District – All Grades
- Excelsior Springs – All Grades
- Lee’s Summit – All Grades
- Liberty School District – All Grades
- Oak Grove R-VI – All Grades
- Raytown – All Grades
- West Platte County – All Grades
Thursday, August 21, 2025
- Lone Jack C-6 School District – All Grades
Key Takeaways
- Earliest start: August 11 (Leavenworth, Shawnee Mission, Turner)
- Most schools begin between August 13–19
- Last to return: Lone Jack C-6 on August 21
- Some districts stagger start dates by grade level or offer half-day sessions
As the school year begins across the Kansas City metro area, families should stay updated on their district’s specific calendar. Start dates vary, and some schools offer different schedules depending on grade level.
Make sure to check for early release or half days, especially for lower grades and new students. Planning ahead will help both students and parents ease into the new academic year smoothly.
Bookmark this page and share it with friends and family so no one misses the first day of class!