Back-to-School Hub

• 2026-2027 Back-to-School Events Calendar (open houses, orientation, picture day, etc.)
• 2026-2027 Family Calendar - grid format
• 2026-2027 Family Calendar - list format

• All in-district families who live in the transportation zone must complete the Transportation Plans Form no later than August 14 (preferably by June 30), (whether or not your student will be riding a bus. The sooner you do it, the more efficiently our transportation staff can plan routes. 
• Routes will be published on our website as soon as they are ready, sometime during the week of August 28th. If you live in the transportation zone but do not submit your plans by August 14th, your student may not have a spot on the bus until the second week of school. 
• All families with students who ride buses must review the Transportation Rules each year. 

• Haven't enrolled your new-to-Dexter students for fall yet? Don't worry, you can do it anytime online.
• Need to re-enroll a student who previously attended Dexter and is returning after a break? Contact DCS Central Offices to have your student(s) and yourself reactivated in PowerSchool PRIOR to completing any forms!
• Need to apply for Schools of Choice? The next application window is July 20-31, 2026. Families will be notified of their status by the end of the day, August 7th.

Important Paperwork Checklist

• All in-district families who live in the transportation zone must complete the Transportation Plans Form no later than August 14 (preferably by June 30), whether or not your student will be riding a bus. All families with students who ride buses must review the Transportation Rules each year.
• In mid-August, DCS will email the DCS Wayfinder to all families with a reminder to complete the Annual Acknowledgements and Permissions. These must be completed every year, before the start of school so that we have accurate health information for students, contact information for parents, and everyone can participate in field trips, etc. as appropriate. Responses from prior school years are wiped out each year, so don't try to do these ahead of August 1st. Here's a link to detailed instructions for completing forms.
• To change your address, complete the change of address form (R2 Student Address Update) in PowerSchool. You can upload your proof of residence into PowerSchool or email it to your building secretary. Please note: address changes cannot be processed without proof of residence. You must complete your change of address prior to students being placed on a bus route.
• To change your phone number and/or email, complete the contacts form (R3 Student Contacts Update) in PowerSchool. 
• To set up a school lunch money account and to see if you for free and reduced lunch (which includes other benefits for qualified students), please use the Family Portal to set up or update your account. You will need your student's PowerSchool ID to do so. If you can't find it, send us a note with your child's full name and date of birth and we can send you the ID number. 
• To purchase device insurance for your student's school-issued device, please visit our insurance page.

• We send out District communications periodically over the summer to currently enrolled families. Families who registered to start in Dexter for fall 2026 can follow district news over the summer on the DCSD app. 
• Newly-enrolled families start receiving district communications in August when the school year rolls up. You don't need to sign up for anything. 
• Buildings begin communicating with all families in mid-August. All registered students begin receiving information at that time. 
• Class placements are emailed to families the last week in August. 

• DCS will supply all materials needed for students to do their schoolwork. 

• Gathering school supplies is a fun back-to-school tradition for many families. Families often inquire about supplies that their students might find useful at home and/or supplies that they might donate to the classroom. For this reason, we have partnered with TeacherLists to provide parents and guardians with an accurate, convenient list for each building so that families can easily take advantage of summer sales if they choose to purchase classroom supplies. 

• School Supplies page

• We anticipate that school lunches will be free for all students for the 2026-207 school year. 
• To set up a school lunch money account and see if you for free and reduced lunch (which includes other benefits for qualified students), please use the Family Portal to set up or update your account. You will need your student's PowerSchool ID to do so. If you can't find it, send us a note from your email address on record with your child's full name and date of birth and we can send you the ID number.
• Families can deposit funds for extras (additional portions or add-ons for older students) in the school lunch account. Funds can be added by credit card or personal check via school offices. For more information, visit our Food and Nutrition page. 

• Registration for Middle School and High School Sports are completed online. The department will be using a new registration vendor starting in July, so stay tuned for details. Full registration info is on the Athletics Page
• Camps for youth run throughout the summer; most are offered by Community Education with camps conducted by coaches and varsity athletes. 

• Have a burning question that isn't answered here? Try the search bar at the top of the page!
• Still stumped? Use Talk to Us. Your question will be routed to the person best equipped to help! Most inquiries receive an answer within two business days, often sooner.