More than 8,700 Lower Merion School District students head back to class on Tuesday, Sept. 8.

Staff across the district's 11 schools have spent the weeks of Aug. 24 and Aug. 31 getting classrooms, buses and kitchens ready for opening day, according to the district's newsroom. For families across Lower Merion Township, the countdown to the 2026–27 school year is one week out.

New teachers and professional staff completed a four-day orientation the week of Aug. 24 through the New Teacher Assistance Program (NTAP). Participants learned about district policies and priorities, set up their technology accounts, toured school buildings by bus and took part in team-building activities with new colleagues.

Returning staff joined them the week of Aug. 31 for a separate round of professional development, classroom setup and final preparations before the first day.

The transportation team ran its own training track. Bus drivers and aides completed a day of professional development. They have already been on the road, ferrying students to non-public schools that opened earlier while practicing their Lower Merion routes ahead of Sept. 8.

Lower Merion's start date is among the latest in Montgomery County, where most of the county's 22 public school districts opened Aug. 31, Main Line Media News reported.

Operations crews have been cleaning and preparing buildings and grounds across the district. Nutritional services staff are stocking kitchens, organizing supplies and preparing to serve thousands of meals once students arrive.

Superintendent Dr. Frank Ranelli noted the Sept. 8 start in an Aug. 24 letter to families about new technology-use policies, writing that he looked forward to welcoming students back for another year of learning and growth.

The district is also inviting families to mark the occasion with official first-day-of-school photo cards, available on the district website. Parents can share opening-day pictures on Instagram or Facebook using the hashtag #LMSD1stDay, and tagged photos will appear in a back-to-school slideshow on the district site. Families can also email photos to [email protected].

First bell rings Sept. 8.