2026-27 Back-to-School Information

Webpage banner graphic of back to school information.

BACK-TO-SCHOOL RESOURCES

Aspen Parent Portal Information

Back-to-School Events

BACK-TO-SCHOOL EVENTS

Pre-K:

Palmer Center Open House:
- Friday, July 31, 2026
  - 2-2:30 p.m. (Open House - Sensory Friendly)
  - 2:30-3:30 p.m. (Open House - All Students)
PreK Family Orientation:
- Monday, August 3, 2026
  - 8:30 a.m. (All district-wide PreK 4 Classrooms)
  - PreK 3 Classrooms Orientation will be scheduled by teachers

Elementary Schools:

Adams: Thursday, July 30, 2026
- 3-4 p.m. (Last Names A-J)
- 4:30-5:30 p.m. (Last Names K-Z)
Jackson: Thursday, July 30, 2026
- 3:30-5 p.m. (All Students)
Jefferson: Thursday, July 30, 2026
- 1:30-2 p.m. (Kindergarten Orientation - Last Names A-J)
- 2-3 p.m. (Back-to-School Event - Last Names A-J)
- 3:30-4 p.m. (Kindergarten Orientation - Last Names K-Z)
- 4-5 p.m. (Back-to-School Event - Last Names K-Z)
Johnson: Friday, July 31, 2026
- 12-1 p.m. (Last Names A-K)
- 2-3 p.m. (Last Names L-Z)
Kennedy: Friday, July 31, 2026
- 1-1:45 p.m. (Kindergarten Orientation)
- 2:30-3:30 p.m. (All Students)
Lincoln: Thursday, July 30, 2026
- 3:30- 4:30 p.m. (All Students)
Roosevelt: Thursday, July 30, 2026
- 5-6 p.m. (All Students)
Washington: Thursday, July 30, 2026
- 3-4 p.m. (Last Names A-K)
- 4-5 p.m. (Last Names L-Z)

Middle School:

Robinson Events:
- Thursday, July 30, 2026 from 4:30-5:30 p.m. (6th Grade Event)
- Thursday, July 30, 2026 from 6-7 p.m. (7th & 8th Grade Event)
Sevier Events:
- Thursday, July 30, 2026 from 4:30-6 p.m. (Back-to-School Event - Students will receive their schedules at this time and meet teachers.)

High School:

D-B EXCEL: Thursday, July 30, 2026 from 12-2 p.m. (Students will receive their schedules and meet their teachers.)

Classroom Assignments & Class Schedules

CLASSROOM ASSIGNMENTS & CLASS SCHEDULES

Schedules and assignments will be distributed in the following ways:

Elementary School: Parents can view homeroom placements online via their Aspen Parent Portal account starting Wednesday, July 22, 2026 after 11 a.m.

Middle School: Provided at the middle school Back to School events and available in the Aspen Parent Portal account starting Thursday, July 30, 2026 after 12 p.m.

High School: Available in the Aspen Parent Portal account starting on Thursday, July 30, 2026 after 12 p.m.

If you have questions or need assistance in accessing your Aspen Parent Portal, email [email protected] to request portal information.

J Fred Johnson Stadium Clear Bag & Admission Policies (Reminder)

Wireless Communication Device Policy (Reminder)

KCS WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE POLICY (PER STATE LAW)

As a reminder, per Tennessee state law, all school districts are required to limit student use of wireless communication devices during the school day.

What it means for your student:

- Students may bring devices to school.

- Student-owned devices (phones, smartwatches, earbuds, tablets, laptops, etc.) must be turned off and stored for the entire school day.

- Exceptions apply for emergencies, health needs, and accommodations (IEPs, 504s, etc.).

Why this matters:

- This policy helps create a more focused, less distracted learning environment and supports stronger academic engagement and mental well-being.

Learn more about KCS Policy 6.312 and the new state law at https://bit.ly/KCSnews.

Kindergarten Information & Staggered Start Dates

KINDERGARTEN INFORMATION ONLY

Please take note of the following information regarding your child's first week* of school:

Monday, August 3: This is the first day of school for Kingsport City Schools. Kindergarten students in GROUP A (only) will attend school from 9:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. Each school will communicate which group students will be in.

Tuesday, August 4: Kindergarten students in GROUP B (only) will attend school from 9:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. Each school will communicate which group students will be in.

Wednesday, August 5 - Friday, August 7: All Kindergarten students (GROUP A and GROUP B) will attend school from 8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Monday, August 10: All Kindergarten students attend class on a regular school schedule (8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.).

*Take note: Afternoons will be used to administer beginning of the year screenings for students. These appointments will be scheduled by your child's teacher.

P3 Campus - Anonymous Reporting Tool

Students, employees, and families are empowered to anonymously submit reports and other feedback to authorized KCS school administrators and school resource officers at the Kingsport Police Department via P3 Campus.

Submit a report through one of the following platforms: Visit the district website (k12k.com) or any school website and click on "Anonymous Reporting," visit P3Campus.com, download the P3 Campus mobile app, or scan the QR code printed on school posters. The reported issues include topics such as bullying/cyberbulling, drugs, alcohol, fighting, harassment, and suicide threats.

Reports are monitored 24/7 to ensure that time-sensitive matters are dealt with promptly. (When reporters use the mobile app, they are notified when action has been taken on their report, which demonstrates the value of their time and concern.) Reporters can attach photos, screenshots, videos, documents or audio recording to their reports, and they can anonymously engage in two-way dialogue with a real person; both of these features greatly facilitate swift interventions.

Submit a report.

ParentSquare & StudentSquare Introduction to Families

Kingsport City School now uses ParentSquare as our primary platform for district, school, classroom, athletic, and activities communication. Families receive messages through email, app, voice, or text, helping everyone stay informed and involved.

An account is automatically created for each parent or guardian using the contact information in our student information system (Aspen). Activate your ParentSquare account to download the free mobile app, set your language preferences, and choose how and when you’d like to receive messages.

What you can do with ParentSquare:

Receive updates from your school via email, app, or text notification
Choose to get posts as they’re shared or bundled in a daily digest
View posts, photos, calendars, and important announcements
Communicate in your preferred language with automatic translation
Comment on school posts and stay engaged with your school community
Send direct messages to teachers and staff
Participate in group conversations with other families
Sign up for conferences and school events
Fill out forms, sign permission slips, make payments, and view report cards - all in one place

StudentSquare, the student communication companion to ParentSquare, helps students stay connected and informed - all in one easy place for students in grades 6-12 (only). Whether it’s a quick message from a teacher, an important alert from your school, or a reminder about tomorrow’s event, StudentSquare makes sure you never miss a thing.

Download the apps via the App Store or Google Play. View additional information and video tutorials. Take note: ParentSquare and StudentSquare has launched a new logo, so training material graphics may differ.

School Menus & Meal Prices

STUDENT NUTRITION SERVICES

Thanks to the Community Eligibility Provision Program, all students enrolled in KCS will automatically qualify for breakfast and lunch at no cost, regardless of socioeconomic status and without completing a free or reduced-priced meals application. Students first breakfast and first lunch meal is free.

Take note, there will still be a charge for ice cream, a la carte items, snack items, and extra food items (seconds). View for additional information and a Community Eligibility Provision Program FAQ.

Breakfast for students' second meal, visitor/staff (no separate pricing) is $3.50.

Lunch for students' second meal, visitor/staff (no separate pricing) is $5.25.

View school menus, meal prices, and payment information by downloading the LINQ Connect app from the app store or scan the qr code.

Student Registration Information

Student Health Services

Tennessee Immunization Requirements

TN IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS

Requirements affect Pre-K, Kindergarten, and rising 7th Grade Students:

For children entering Pre-K, four (4) new additional immunizations are required. All new requirements are routinely recommended immunizations and most children are already receiving these immunizations from their medical provider. In addition, students must provide the new Tennessee Department of Health Certificate of Immunization form (RDA-N/A: revised 3/10) in order to attend school.

For children entering Kindergarten additional doses of existing vaccines are now required, and one (1) new vaccine will be required. In addition, these students must provide the new Tennessee Department of Health Certificate of Immunization form (RDA-N/A: revised 3/10) in order to attend school.

Children entering the 7th Grade must show proof of the tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis booster (Tdap). These students must provide the new Tennessee Department of Health Certificate of Immunization form (RDA-N/A: revised 3/10) in order to attend school and will not receive a class schedule until the school receives the updated certificate.

In addition, any new student who plans to enroll in a Kingsport City School will be required to bring to the school the new Tennessee Department of Health Certificate of Immunization form (RDA-N/A: revised 3/10) prior to the first day of school.

For more information, please contact your family physician or the Sullivan County Health Department at (423) 279.2777. More information on required immunizations is also available at the Sullivan County Health Department at sullivanhealth.org.

Tuition & Zoning Application

TUITION AND ZONING APPLICATION

Parents who would like to request their child attend a different city school outside the school zone their child is zoned for, must apply for a zoning exception. Parents of students who are not legal residents of the City of Kingsport must submit a tuition application to attend KCS. View for additional Zoning and Tuition information, rates, and the application.

Kingsport City Schools