Back to School Information

In order to make it easier to find back to school information you need to get ready for the first day of school, we’ve gathered all the information onto this page.

The first day of school is September 1, 2026. The first day for Transition to Kindergarten is September 21.

Please check your school’s website for specific information, important dates, and updates.

Back to School Nights/Open Houses

Canyon Creek

Thursday, August 27, 2026
5:30 – 6:00 Orientation to Middle School for 6th Grade Parents & New Students

6:00 – 7:00 Open House – Meet and Greet Your Teachers and Self Tour

Cape Horn-Skye

Thursday, August 28th, 4:00-5:00 PM – Cape Horn-Skye Kindergarten Orientation (Meet teachers, go for a bus ride, tour the school, receive information on a day in the life of a kindergartner, answer questions, and more!)

Thursday, August 28th, 5:00-6:00 PM – Cape Horn-Skye Back-to-School Night for all grades TK-5 (come any time in this timeframe to see the classrooms, meet the teachers, drop of school supplies, and see friends)

Columbia River Gorge Elementary

August 27, 2025 5:30-6:30 PM CRGE Back to School Night
August 21, 2025 10 AM CRGE Kindergarten Orientation

Gause

August 27, 2025 5:00-6:00 PM Gause Back to School Night Grades 1-5
August 27, 2025 4:00-5:00 PM Gause Kindergarten Orientation
First day for Kindergarten students will be September 4

Hathaway

Thursday, August 28th, 2025 at 5:00 – 6:00 pm
Hathaway Kindergarten & Dual Language Kindergarten orientation August 21, 10:00 to 11:00 AM
TK orientation will occur in September, details TBD

JMS

Thursday, August 27, 2026 at 6:30 to 7:30 PM

WLA

August 28, 2025 5:00-6:00 PM WLA Grades K-8 Open House (hosted at Gause Elementary School)
Orientations are available by appointment.

WHS

Athletics night will be Monday, August 17 at 5:00 PM
WHS New Student Registration event – August 21, 2025 at 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
The WHS Counseling Team will be present to work with students on course selection. Please bring a transcript if possible. This event is for students new to Washougal who have not yet chosen classes for the new school year.

Bell Schedules

2025-2026 Bell Schedule

Please note the new start time for Washougal High School and Jemtegaard Middle School!

All children attending schools in Washington state must provide medically verified Immunization Records. Students who do not receive the required immunizations or provide exemption information will be excluded from school starting on the first day of school.

Department of Health School Requirement Charts for Immunizations

A list of free and low cost vaccinations options are available through the Clark County Health Department.

Meal Prices & Free/Reduced Meal Application

Meal Prices for 2025-2026 School Year

Increased meal prices help cover the costs associated with complying with nutrition guidelines and also help reduce the amount that the district is subsidizing the food program. Yearly review of meal prices are required by the USDA, following policy 6700, and the district must adjust prices when the review indicates the program is not charging enough.

For 2025-2026 – all meals for students in grades TK-5 are Free!

Elementary Schools	Regular	Reduced/Free	Adult
Breakfast	No charge ($2.50)	No charge	$4.00
Lunch	No charge ($2.50)	No charge	$6.75

Middle Schools	Regular	Reduced/Free	Adult
Breakfast	$2.50	No charge	$4.00
Lunch	$3.95	No charge	$6.75

High Schools	Regular	Reduced/Free	Adult
Breakfast	$2.75	No charge	$4.00
Lunch	$4.20	No charge	$6.75

Milk	$.50
Coffee			Adult $3.00

Board adopted June 10, 2025;

The updated application for free and reduced price meals is posted on the Food Service page.

Bus Routes and Information

Bus routes for students are posted in Qmlativ Family Access each August, usually around a week prior to the start of school. If you have specific questions about transportation for your student, please reach out to the Transportation department at 360-954-3030.