Each year, there are several important dates for AAPS families before school starts. We’ve also got dates for other Washtenaw County School Districts like Ypsilanti and Lincoln.
Elementary schools often have playground playdates and meet and greets before school starts, High Schools have orientations, band camps, and sports practices. After school starts, each school has a Back to School night plus a variety of other return events.
Before School AAPS Events
These are the events that happen before the first day of school – August 31 in 2026-2027. Events include Registration, Orientations, Building Tours, Social Events
High School Registration
At High School registration students can pickup their course schedule and any text books for those classes, have school pictures taken and get their student ID for 2025-2026, and preview fall events, sports, and clubs. Students can attend alone or with a parent. From attending Skyline registration with my daughter, more parents attended in younger years before kids could drive, but a number of senior parents still attended as well. There are things to pay for like a parking pass, PTSO fees, spirit wear, and more.
- Huron High School
- Monday, August 17
- 9a-11a – Music Students only
- Tuesday, August 18
- 8a-noon – Seniors (class of 2027)
- 1-5p – Juniors (Class of 2028)
- Wednesday, August 19
- 1-5p – Sophomores (Class of 2029)
- Thursday, August 20
- 8-11:30a – Freshman (Class of 2030) – A-K Last Names
- noon-1p – Freshman Orientation
- 1:05p – Freshman (Class of 2030) – L-Z Last Names
- Friday, August 21
- 10a-2p Make Up Registration
- Monday, August 17
- Pioneer High School
- Wednesday, August 19-Friday, August 21 – Calendar just lists registration. We did not find additional details as of August 9.
- Skyline High School
- Monday, August 17 –
- 9a-noon – 9th Grade & New Sgtudent Link Crew
- noon-2p – Freshman Registration
- 2-4p – Registration for all grades
- Wednesday August 19
- 1-4p Registration for all grades
- Tuesday, August 25
- 4-6p Makeup Registration, all grades
- Monday, August 17 –
- Community High School
- Monday, August 24 – Back to School Orientation (Schedule Not finalized, as of Augsut 9)
- 8:30-10a – 12th Graders
- 10a-11:30a – 11th Graders
- noon-1:30p – 10th Graders
- 1:30-3p – 9th Graders
- Monday, August 18
- 8:30-10:30a – New Technology Pickup for 11th Grade
- 10:30a-12:30p – New Technology Pickup for 19th Grade
- Monday, August 24 – Back to School Orientation (Schedule Not finalized, as of Augsut 9)
We were unable to easily find the Pioneer registration information on their website. If your child will be attending Pioneer, we suggest checking your email.
High School Band Events
Each of the high schools has a band camp over the summer.
- Pioneer HIgh School
- August 11-17 – Interlochen
- Huron High School
- August 18-24 – Interlochen
- Skyline High School
- August 18-24 – Interlochen
- Community High School
- August 24-27 – 3-9p – Jazz Camp
High School Sports
According to MHSAA rules, fall sports can begin practice on Monday, August 10, 2026. Check with your team coach for your child’s sport schedule.
Make sure to have their physical and paperwork completed before this date. Physical forms must be based on a physical after April 15. We have used Trinity Urgent Care when our physical schedule didn’t line up with the date requirements
If you are planning ahead, the first day of practice for 2027-2028 is August 9.
Middle School Events
Middle Schools typically have registration events like the high schools.
As of August 9, we only found details for Forsythe.
- Forsythe Middle School
- Thursday, August 20
- 8:30-10a – 8th Grade Registration
- 10:30-noon – 6th Grade Registration
- noon-3p – 6th Grade Lunch & WEB Activities
- 1-2:30p – 7th Grade Registration
- Thursday, August 20
Elementary School Events
Many elementary schools organize informal playdates for incoming Y5/K families. These often happen on the school playground. Additionally some schools offer meet and greets either for the whole school or just Y5/K students. These are typically hosted by the school PTO and communicated via school e-mails, and through the PTO’s social media pages and groups. We were able to find the following events shared on public social media pages.
- A2STEAM @ Northside – Private PTO Group
- Abbot Elementary PTO –
- Traditionally holds a Popsicles on the Playground. We didn’t see any announcements as of August 9
- Allen Elementary Community – Private PTO Group
- Angell School PTO – Private PTO Group – Events on School Calendar
- August 25 – New Family Tours 2:30-3:30p, Popsicles on the Playground & New Family Tours
- Ann Arbor Open School Information Group – Private Group
- Bach Elementary
- Playdates all at Allmendinger Park
- Incoming K/Y5 – August 13 & 16 – noon-1:30p
- Incoming 1st – August 16 – 4-5:30p
- Incoming 2nd – August 26 – 4-5:30p
- Incoming 3rd – August 23 – 2:30-4p
- Incoming 4th – August 29 – 10a-noon
- Incoming 5th – August 23 – 4-5:30p
- Playdates all at Allmendinger Park
- Bryant/Pattengill PTO Group – Private Group
- Burns Park Elementary School
- No events listed as of August 9
- Dicken PTO – Website, Private Facebook Group
- Summer Picnics – 6/24, 7/22, 8/12 at 6p at Las Vegas Park – Bring your dinner & a blanket or just come play
- Eberwhite School Parents Group – Private Group
- Haisley Elementary
- Playground Playdate – Wednesday, August 12 6-7p at Haisley Playground
- Haisley Hello – Wednesday, August 20
- King Elementary School PTO
- No events listed as of 8/11
- Lakewood Elementary School PTO
- Popsicles on the Playground – Meet Your Teacher – August 16 Time TBD as of 8/9
- Lawton Elementary PTO
- As of 8/9 we don’t see any events
- Logan Elementary
- As of 8/9 we don’t see any events.
- Mitchell School PTO
- As of 8/9 we don’t see any events.
- Pittsfield Elementary PTO – Private Group
- Thurston Elementary PTO –
- No events found as of 8/11
- Wines Elementary PTO
- No events found as of 8/11
As of Augsut 9, there seem to be less events announced than in past years. It is likely that the lack of a teacher contract has led to a decrease in events that include teachers. We will continue to monitor for more events.
After School Starts – AAPS Events
Some events are held after school starts. There are typically some social events, and some curriculum/capsule nights where you can meet your child’s teachers. Dates for these were typically included in the district’s Back to School guide in mid-August. As of August 9, we don’t see these in the Back to School Guide.
Ann Arbor School Calendar
Ypsilanti Community Schools Back to School Events:
Ypsilanti Community Schools is holding a Transportation Kick-Off on Thursday, August 27 from 3-6p. Join them at the YCS Transporation Department (1950 Holmes Rd, Ypsi) for Free Hamburgers & Hot Dogs, Local Vendors, Bounce houses, music, meet & greet with transportation staff & more.
Ypsilanti Community High School Freshman Orientation is 9:30a-noon on Friday, August 28.
Lincoln Consolidated Schools Back to School Events
Lincoln Schools has several Back to School events planned. See their Facebook announcement for more details.
- August 11 – Lincoln HS Kickoff at LHS West Gym (drop-in event)
- 9a-noon – 9th & 12th Grades
- 1-4p – 10th & 11th Grades
- August 14 – Lincoln Middle Schools W.E.B.
- 8a-noon – 6th Grade & New Student Orientation
- 8a – Parent Meeting in Media Center
- August 19 – Elementary Open House & Splitterpalooza
- 4-7p – Spliterpalooza at Lincoln Athletic Building
- Bounce Houses
- Food Trucks
- Community Partners
- Lincoln Hub
- 5-6:30p – Open House – All Elementary Buildings
- 4-7p – Spliterpalooza at Lincoln Athletic Building
Back to School Events on our Calendar
Our calendar includes community Back to School events and some district wide events, but not events for individual schools.
📚 Sunday August 16 Downtown School Supply Stroll Downtown Ypsilanti
📚 Wednesday August 19 Back to School Splitterpalooza Lincoln Athletic Building
📚 Thursday August 27 YCS Transportation Kick-Off & Fun Day YCS Transportation Depot
More Ann Arbor Back to School Information
Be sure to check our Ann Arbor Back to School Guide for more information including school calendar, supplies, bus routes, and more updated.
Ann Arbor Back to School Guide
Do you have questions about Back to School in Ann Arbor Public Schools? Our Back to School Guide will help you find answers to your questions. We are starting to add to this list for 2026-2027. Information is slowly being released about Back to School for 2026. Traditionally I updated this with information I received […]
Dicken meet and greet is now 4:15-5:15 on August 27 and there is an incoming y-5 and Kindergarten play date on Thursday, August 22nd at Las Vegas park at 5pm.
Bryant/Pattengill’s popsicles on the playground is 4-6 pm on Tuesday, August 27. Students get to meet teachers and staff as well at that event.