Welcome back, students and families! As your superintendent, I'm thrilled to kick off another exciting school year filled with opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive. Whether you're just starting kindergarten or gearing up for graduation, our schools are ready to support you every step of the way. To help you prepare, we've gathered all the essential information—from school supply lists to open house information and school calendars —on this dedicated Back to School website. Please take a moment to read through it so you're set for a smooth and successful start to the new year!
The District will use a staggered-start schedule for different grade levels to make the transition to the new school year as smooth as possible. Please note the following:
Monday, August 11 – First Day and Orientation for Grades 1-6, and 9
All first through sixth and ninth graders (freshmen) will report on their regular schedule for orientation.
Not reporting: kindergarten, seventh, eighth, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth (kindergarten, 7th, 8th, 10th, and 12th) graders.
Tuesday, August 12 – First Through Twelfth Graders Report
All first through twelfth graders report for school on their regular schedule.
Every Groveport Madison school hosts an open house/welcome night at the start of the school year. These events aim to familiarize parents and students with their school and to introduce them to the teachers and principals. This year's open house schedule is listed below.
Kindergarten Assessment Appointments
Before the start of school, all kindergarteners will participate in an informal assessment. This assessment helps our teachers become acquainted with each kindergartener's abilities and needs and allows us to determine classroom placement and whether any other services may be necessary to ensure the child’s success.
By Friday, Aug. 1, each child’s school will notify parents of the date their kindergartener will participate in the assessment. We will be scheduling appointments on Aug. 11, 12, or 13. Only the students will attend during their scheduled appointment time.
Kindergarten Staggered-Start Days
To create a smooth start to the school year, we have staggered the start for all kindergarten students, with half of the students attending one day and the other half attending the second day. Please seee the anticipated schedule below. Please note that it may be necessary to adjust the groups to make balanced group.
Aug. 14: Kindergarteners with last names beginning with A-L will attend school all day. Not reporting: Students with the last names beginning with M-Z.
Aug. 15: Kindergarteners with last names beginning with M-Z will attend school all day. Not reporting: Students with the last names starting with A-L.
Aug. 18: First Day for all Kindergarteners
All kindergarteners attend school on a full-day schedule
Should you have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s school.
Preschool Staggered-Start Days
To create a smooth start to the school year, we have staggered the start for all preschool students, with half of the students attending on one day and the other half attending on the second day. Please note the following schedule:
August 12: Half of the Preschoolers will attend school.
August 13: The other half of the Preschoolers will attend school.
August 14: The first day all preschoolers will attend school.
Teachers will send letters to parents in the first week of August to notify them of their preschooler's start date. Please don't hesitate to contact the preschool if you have questions.
District Transportation Services
Per Board of Education Policy and Ohio Law, Groveport Madison Schools provides bus service to students living one mile or more from their assigned school. Groveport Madison Schools provides bus service to students living one mile or more from their assigned school. The District assigns centrally-located, regional bus stops to provide the most convenient access to the greatest number of students on each bus route.
District Transportation Services
At Groveport Madison Schools, student safety and reliability are at the heart of our transportation services. In accordance with Board of Education policy and Ohio law, students who live one mile or more from their assigned school are eligible for bus transportation.
Exceptions may apply for students with temporary or permanent disabilities (as outlined by a physician and included in an IEP), or in cases involving unsafe walking conditions.
To maximize efficiency and serve the most students possible, we assign centralized neighborhood bus stops to each route.
Community Bus Services, Inc. (CBS) provides transportation services for Groveport Madison Schools. They are committed to providing our students with safe, on-time, and friendly transportation services to and from school daily. For information about CBS, visit their website, at com-bus.com.
Bus Route Information
Updated bus routes will be posted online soon.
Please check back regularly during the first few weeks of school, as routes are often adjusted to accommodate late enrollments and other changes.
Important Reminders for Families
Expect delays during the first few weeks of school as routes are finalized.
Students must use their assigned bus stop unless alternate arrangements have been approved in advance.
Please arrive at the bus stop 10 minutes before your scheduled bus stop arrival time.
If your child needs to be picked up or dropped off at a different location due to childcare reasons, please contact our Transportation Department at 614-836-4788 or email SchoolBus@GoCruisers.org.
No new stop requests will be considered until after Sept. 8, allowing time to stabilize routes and make necessary adjustments.
Getting students to and from school safely is a team effort—thank you for partnering with us!
ALL STUDENTS RECEIVE Free Lunch and Breakfast for the 2025-2026 School Year
Nutritious Meals Help Children Succeed
Children who eat a nutritious breakfast and lunch daily frequently perform better and are less distracted in school. Eating a daily school-provided breakfast and lunch is critical to student health and well-being and ensures students have the nutrition they need throughout the day to learn. Research shows that eating school-provided breakfast and lunch reduces food insecurity, obesity, and poor health.
Our breakfasts and lunches are prepared from chef-developed recipes and include a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. All meals meet or exceed USDA guidelines and help children grow into healthy adults.
Free Breakfast & Lunch for all Students
Groveport Madison Schools now provides free breakfast and lunch for all students regardless of their family’s income. No application is needed.
Lunch Menus & Nutrition Information
Check out school menus and get information on meal serving sizes, carbohydrate counts, and allergy information at Groveport.Nutrislice.com or download the Nutrislice! App from Google Play or the App Store.
Immunization Requirements
Part of the mission of the Ohio Department of Health (ODOH) is to ensure that all Ohio schools provide safe and healthy environments for students and staff alike. The State of Ohio dictates the immunization requirements for entrance into public schools, including Groveport Madison Schools. A list of immunizations is available at gocruisers.org/healthservices.aspx or odh.ohio.gov/immunization. Contact your child's healthcare provider to ensure their vaccinations are up to date.
Immunization Requirements for Incoming 7th and 12th Graders
A booster dose of the Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis) and MCV4 (Meningococcal) vaccine is required before entry into the seventh grade, and incoming twelfth graders must have a second dose of the MCV4 (Meningococcal) vaccine before returning to school. If your child has not had these immunizations, please contact your healthcare provider or the Franklin County Public Health Department right away. Don't wait until the last minute; schedule your child to get these vaccinations.
Please contact your healthcare provider or the school nurse with questions or concerns.
Franklin Co. Public Health Immunization Clinics
FCPH offers immunization clinics by appointment only at their 280 East Broad Street (Columbus) location. Clinics are held at various times and locations throughout the year. To make an appointment, please call (614) 525-3719. More information is available at https://myfcph.org/vaccines/.
At Groveport Madison Schools, we believe providing students with the tools they need to succeed is a shared effort between our schools and families. While the District supplies most of the essential materials, some class- and teacher-specific items still need to come from home.
To make back-to-school shopping easier than ever, we’ve partnered with TeacherLists—a convenient online tool that allows families to view and shop school supply lists with just a few clicks. You can even shop directly from major retailers like Target, Walmart, or Amazon.
High School Families:
Due to the wide variety of courses, Groveport Madison High School does not publish a general supply list. Instead, teachers will share any class-specific supply needs with students after the school year begins.
Let’s set our students up for success—starting with the right supplies!
School Supply Distribution Through Groveport Madison Human Needs
Many generous individuals and organizations in our community donate school supplies to Groveport Madison Human Needs, which, in turn, helps our local families. Basic school supplies will be available to Groveport Madison students from 1–3 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 3. The Groveport Madison Human Needs school supply distribution will occur at Middle School North, 5474 Sedalia Dr., Columbus. For entry, proof of residency (a driver’s license or current utility bill) demonstrating you live within the school district is required.
