Despite state law mandating public schools start Sept. 1 or later, students in three Green Bay-area school districts will head back in late August after their districts sought exemptions.
Districts seeking to start before Sept. 1 must qualify for an exception, which can include major planned construction projects, closure due to “forces of nature” or high costs caused by transporting private school students, who may start before Sept. 1.
In the 2024-25 school year, for example, multiple area districts started early so they could cancel school during the 2025 NFL Draft.
One factor affecting this year’s calendar is Labor Day falling on the latest possible date, Sept. 7. Sept. 1 is a Tuesday, so school districts that prefer to start on a Monday might aim to start Aug. 31 instead.
Here’s when Green Bay area students will head back to class:
Green Bay
Green Bay students come back to class Aug. 31. The first day will be in-person for 4K through sixth grade and ninth grade, while seventh, eighth and 10th through 12th grades will start the same day, but online.
The school district requested a waiver because it has major construction projects planned for summer 2027 that require an extended construction period, according to a Green Bay School Board memo. It also prefers to start Monday to establish student routines.
Ashwaubenon
Ashwaubenon students in 4K through eighth grade will start school either Sept. 1 or Sept. 2, depending on their last name. Students with last names A through “Last” start Sept. 1 and students with last names “Lax” through Z start Sept. 2.
Ashwaubenon High School students start Sept. 1.
Denmark
Denmark students start Sept. 1.
De Pere
Students in all De Pere schools start Aug. 27, a Thursday. De Pere requested an earlier start because it buses over 200 students to Notre Dame of De Pere, a private school that starts Aug. 24.
“Running these buses without our students riding would incur additional costs and excessive costs, creating a significant burden for the district,” the De Pere School Board states in a letter to DPI.
Howard-Suamico
Students at Howard-Suamico schools start either Sept. 1 or Sept. 2. Students in grades K-7 and 9 start Sept. 1. All students attend Sept. 2, making it the first day for grades 8 and 10 through 12.
Pulaski
Pulaski schools start Aug. 31. Pulaski requested a waiver to accommodate planned construction projects and summer school programming, according to a Pulaski School Board resolution.
West De Pere
School starts Sept. 1 in West De Pere.
Wrightstown
Wrightstown students go back to school Sept. 1.
Contact Green Bay education reporter Nadia Scharf at nscharf@usatodayco.com or on X at @nadiaascharf.
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: When do Green Bay, Brown County schools go back? Some start in August
Reporting by Nadia Scharf, Green Bay Press-Gazette / Green Bay Press-Gazette
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By Nadia Scharf, Green Bay Press-Gazette | USA TODAY Network
