Dear RPS High School families,
We are so excited for our students to begin the 2025-2026 school year! Below is the information you need to know before the start of the school year.
When is the first day of school?
The first day of school for 10th through 12th grade students is Tuesday, August 26. 9th grade students, see your information below. You can view the full school year calendar:
First day of 9th Grade
The First Day of 9th Grade is exactly how it sounds, it's the first day for our 9th grade students to experience the transition to high school. Students have the school day to get comfortable with their new schedules, ask questions, learn the layout of the building, and meet their peers. The first day for 9th grade students will be Monday, August 25.
What are the bell times?
All high schools start at 8:50 a.m. and end at 3:30 p.m.
Free breakfast will be served in the cafeteria from 8:35 to 8:45 a.m.; please plan accordingly.
Schedule Pick up and School Supply Lists
Century High School
All students will have their school picture taken at schedule pick up.
Wednesday, August 13 from 4 to 7 p.m for 9th Grade
Thursday, August 14 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. for 10th Grade
Thursday, August 14 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for 11th Grade
Thursday, August 14 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. for 12th Grade
John Marshall High School
Wednesday, August 13 from 2 to 5 p.m. for 9th Grade
Thursday, August 14 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for 10-12th Grade
Mayo High School
Students should enter at door 6.
All students will have their school picture taken at schedule pick up. Students unable to attend schedule pick up are expected to have their picture taken on Friday, September 5.
Wednesday, August 13 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m for 10-12th Grade
Thursday, August 14 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for 9th Grade
If students cannot attend Schedule Pick Up, schedules will be available in Skyward on Friday, August 15, 2025.
What about Transportation information?
Bussing is only guaranteed for high school students within the boundary of their school (more than 2 miles away); to view the school's boundaries, visit the Find Your School map.
Bus route information will be delivered via email in mid-August. If you have questions about your transportation route, please email our transportation department or call 507.328.4260.
Download the First View 1.0 App to keep track of your student’s bus location and route. For RPS Families using the app, you’ll need to enter code: K3H9D
Don’t forget that FirstView released a new app over the summer. Please meake sure you have the “FirstView 1.0” app downloaded.
Planning for student meals
For the 2025-2026 school year, all in-person students can receive one free breakfast and one free lunch each school day due to the MN Free School Meals Program. (Minnesota Legislature change from 2025 allows students to purchase a second breakfast or second lunch if the student has already had a “free” breakfast or lunch.) Each meal must contain a fruit or vegetable serving to qualify as free, and a student must take three of the five meal components (fruit, vegetable, grain, protein, and milk).
Students still need meal pins. These are used to account for the number of free meals being utilized by students Districtwide.
Families still need a PayPams account or cash to cover a la carte items or second meals.
Families are still encouraged to complete an application for education benefits
Stay up-to-date with our lunch menu on the RPS App. Download the App on the Apple store or Android store.
Where can I find School Supply Lists?
High school students should plan on having pencils, pens, notebooks, and folders for each class. Teachers will provide a list of additional school supplies during the first few days of the school year.
If you have additional questions, please reach out to our school office. Enjoy the last few weeks of summer, and see you soon!
Update your contact information
Did you move? Get a new phone number? Change your email? The Student Information Verification process in Skyward Family Access will be open soon. We’d like to verify that we have the most up-to-date and accurate contact information for you, your student, and your emergency contacts.
Please log in to your Skyward Family Access account and complete the Student Information
Verification process for each student attending RPS. Be sure to complete all of the steps.
Once completed, check back before the school year starts to ensure the requested changes were approved. There are times when certain aspects of a request have to be denied, which puts the process back into an uncompleted status until it has been resolved by you.
Please complete the student information verification form in Skyward before the start of the year.
Get all of this information and more on our Back-to-School webpage at https://www.rochesterschools.org/page/back-to-school. If you have additional questions, please contact your school office. Enjoy the last few weeks of summer, and see you soon!