Sign in Subscribe
Education

Several Douglas County School Districts Begin 2026-27 School Year Monday

Several Douglas County school districts begin the 2026-27 school year Monday, Aug. 24, while most others return Aug. 31. Here’s when local students head back to class.

Several Douglas County School Districts Begin 2026-27 School Year Monday
Brockway Elementary (homes.com)

The first school bells of the 2026-27 academic year are ringing Monday for students in several Douglas County communities, while much of the rest of the county has another week before classes begin.

Five Douglas County school districts have student instruction beginning Monday, Aug. 24: Days Creek, Elkton, Glendale, Winston-Dillard, and Yoncalla. Some are using staggered schedules or soft starts for certain grade levels.

Five Districts Start Aug. 24

Days Creek School District's calendar lists Aug. 24 as the first day of school, including for Pre-K students.

Elkton Charter School also begins instructional days Aug. 24, following professional development and in-service work the previous week.

Glendale School District begins student school days Aug. 24, according to its 2026-27 calendar.

Winston-Dillard School District also lists Aug. 24 as its first day, but students are returning on a soft-start schedule. Elementary students attend half-days Aug. 24 through Aug. 26. Winston Middle School welcomes sixth-grade students only on Monday, while Douglas High School welcomes ninth-grade students only.

Yoncalla School District begins classes Aug. 24 as well. Kindergarten students have a soft start Aug. 24 through Aug. 27, followed by their first full day Aug. 31. Preschool students also begin Aug. 31.

Larger Wave of Students Returns Aug. 31

For many other Douglas County families, the first day of school is still one week away.

Camas Valley Community Charter School, Glide School District, North Douglas School District, Oakland School District, Riddle School District, South Umpqua School District and Sutherlin School District all have regular student instruction beginning Monday, Aug. 31.

Reedsport School District also lists Aug. 31 as its first day of school.

Roseburg Public Schools will use a staggered opening beginning Aug. 31. Students in grades 1 through 5, sixth grade and ninth grade have their first day Monday, Aug. 31. Students in grades 7 and 8 and grades 10 through 12 begin Tuesday, Sept. 1. Kindergarten students will follow a soft-start schedule, with families directed to their individual schools for details.

School Buses and School Zones Return

The return to school also means drivers will begin seeing more school buses, students at bus stops and pedestrian traffic near schools.

Under Oregon law, flashing amber lights on a school bus warn drivers that the bus is preparing to stop. Drivers must stop when a school bus displays flashing red lights and remain stopped until the red lights are turned off.

On a divided highway where opposing roadways are separated by an unpaved median or barrier, motorists traveling on the opposite roadway do not have to stop. A painted median or center turn lane does not create separate roadways, meaning traffic traveling in both directions must stop for a school bus displaying flashing red lights.

Drivers should also pay close attention to school-zone signs. Oregon school speed zones have a reduced speed limit of 20 mph when the conditions posted on the sign apply, such as when lights are flashing, during designated school-day hours or when children are present.

With school calendars varying across Douglas County, the return to the classroom will happen in waves this year. For families in Days Creek, Elkton, Glendale, Winston-Dillard and Yoncalla, the new school year begins Monday. For most of the rest of the county, the back-to-school rush arrives Aug. 31.

Read next

Comments ()