It's that time of year again! On Monday, students across Charlotte County are heading back to school, marking the official start of the 2024-2025 academic year.
With thousands of students returning to classrooms, parents and guardians are urged to prepare ahead of time to ensure a smooth transition from all of the summer time off.
If you're looking for Charlotte County school bell times, scroll to the bottom.
First Day Tips
Arrive Early : Expect heavy traffic around schools on Monday morning. Give yourself extra time to drop off your child. Check out the NBC2 Traffic Tracker.
LIVE RADAR | TRAFFIC CONDITIONS
Walking your child to class : Some schools allow you to walk your child to class. You must register and bring a proper photo ID. Contact your school directly if you have additional questions.
Stay Informed : Follow your child’s school on social media or check the school’s website for any last-minute updates. Click here and select your child's school for more.
Be Prepared : Make sure your child has everything they need for the first day, including school supplies, lunch/snacks, medication authorization forms or other required forms.
Updated Information : Ensure your emergency contact list is up-to-date. Also, remember to add everyone who may pick up your child to the school's list.
Car Line : Florida law prohibits the use of any kind of wireless device (phones) in car lines or school zones.
Bus Transportation
For families relying on bus transportation, it’s crucial to double-check your child’s bus stop and pick-up time. Find more information on bussing on the district's transportation page .
Back-to-School Weather Forecast
As kids in most of Southwest Florida head back to school on Monday, it's going to be another hot day.
Easterly winds will kick in, leading to a quick round of isolated storms along the coast around noon, and through the mid-afternoon.
From the mid-afternoon through the early evening, those storms will push further inland and become more scattered. As those storms build they will likely be slow moving and as they collapse mid to late evening we may see some storms push back to the coast.
See more weather from our NBC2 First Alert meteorologists .
What to Wear
If you're looking to wear something cooler to help beat the heat, check out your school's dress code policy . If a student is participating in after-school activities, extra clothes and a water bottle for hydration may be a good idea.
What's for Breakfast/Lunch?
See what's on the menu today and every day with Meal Viewer .
Plan the School Year
You will find the 2024-25 Academic School Year Calendar here. Add the important dates, half-days, and holidays to your phone so you never get caught off guard.
Bell Times
Elementary School
8:20 a.m. - 2:50 p.m.
Deep Creek Elementary
Liberty Elementary
Sallie Jones Elementary
Meadow Park Elementary
Myakka River Elementary
8:40 a.m. - 3:10 p.m.
East Elementary
Kingsway Elementary
Peace River Elementary
Neil Armstrong Elementary
Vineland Elementary
Middle School
9:10 a.m. - 4:10 p.m.
LA Ainger Middle
Murdock Middle
Port Charlotte Middle
Punta Gorda Middle
High School
7:10 a.m. - 2:10 p.m.
Charlotte High
Lemon Bay High
Port Charlotte High
Charlotte Harbor Center
Special Centers
7:30 a.m. - 2:40 p.m.
Charlotte Techincal College
7:40 a.m. - 2:40 p.m.
The Academy
8:40 a.m. - 3:10 p.m.
Baker Center
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