guides

2025 Back-to-School Guide for Families in the Seacoast

The first day of school in the Seacoast is just around the corner!

By Jonna Kinlin, Publisher of Macaroni KID Seacoast August 13, 2025

Back-to-school season in the Seacoast is here, and we’ve got everything local families need to start the 2025 school year off right. Whether you're looking for Seacoast school calendars, community back-to-school events, haircuts, or deals on school supplies — this guide is your one-stop shop for back-to-school in the Seacoast.

šŸ—“ School Calendars for the Seacoast

Here’s when school starts for local students. Click to view the full calendar for each district:

Oyster River SAU #5 
(Durham, Lee, Madbury)
First day: August 27
First day for Preschool: August 28   

Dover SAU #11
First day: September 2

Epping SAU #14
First day: August 26
First day for Pre-K/Kindergarten: August 27

Exeter SAU #16 
(Brentwood, East Kingston, Exeter, Exeter Region Cooperative, Kensington, Newfields, Stratham)
First day: August 25

Sanborn Regional SAU #17 
(Kingston, Newton)
First day: August 26

Winnacunnet SAU #21 
(Hampton Falls, North Hampton, Seabrook, South Hampton, Winnacunnet Cooperative)
First day for grades 1-9 and SST students: August 26
First day for grades 10-12: August 27

Greenland SAU #50 
(Greenland, New Castle, Newington, Rye)
First day for Greenland:September 2
First day for New Castle: September 2

First day for Newington: September 2
First day for
 Rye:  September 2

Portsmouth SAU #52
First day for grades 1-9: August 26
First day for grades 10-12: August 27

Somersworth SAU #56
First day: September 1

Ellis School SAU #83
(Fremont)
First day for grades 1-8: August 26
First day for Pre-K - K: Sept 2

Hampton SAU #90
First day: August 26

Rollinsford SAU #104
First day: September 2

Timberlane Regional SAU #106
(Atkinson, Danville, Plaistow, Sandown)
First day: August 27

Seacoast Charter School SAU #403
First day: Sept 2


šŸŽ‰ Back-to-School Events in the Seacoast

Make the most of the end of summer with these fun back-to-school events in and around the Seacoast:

Tuesdays on the Terrace—An Encore: Back-to-School Kids' Night

Know of a community event we’re missing? Submit it to our calendar





āœ‚ļø Back-to-School Haircuts in the Seacoast

Looking for a fresh cut before the first day? Here are local salons and barbers offering kid-friendly trims:

Scuttlebutt Barbershop
165 Court St. Portsmouth
(413) 466-7316

Sweet Snips
105 Lafayette Rd B2, Hampton Falls
(603) 601-7610

Know a stylist offering back-to-school specials? Email us and we’ll get them added!








Sponsored content
šŸ’” Back-to-School Hack for Busy Parents

šŸŽ’ Walmart has many school supply lists already loaded! Many local teachers sent their lists directly to Walmart, so you can shop online in just a few clicks. Check it out and cross school supplies off your list today:

šŸ‘‰šŸ½ Click here to find your school list at Walmart


šŸ›ļø Back-to-School Shopping in the Seacoast

Support local while checking off that supply list! These small businesses are great stops for back-to-school shopping:

Baby go Round
105 Lafayette Road, Hampton Falls

Children's Orchard
105 Gosling Rd Ste, 11 Newington

Puddlejumpers Children's Shop
31 Water Street, Exeter

Sweet Pea
95 Brewery Lane, Portsmouth

The Wishing Elephant
22 Canal Street, Suite 223, Somersworth

Have a favorite local shop that should be on this list? Email us and we’ll add it!


More tips to make this school year in Seacoast, NH a great one:

šŸ“¬ Want more back-to-school tips and local family fun? Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter — it’s packed with events, giveaways, and ideas your kids will love.


Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter to stay in the know about all the family-friendly events and activities in the Seacoast area!

Check out our Seacoast local calendar for even more events! 

We proudly serve the towns of Brentwood, Danville, Dover, East Kingston, Epping, Exeter, Fremont, Greenland, Hampton, Hampton Falls, Kensington, Kingston, Lee, Madbury, Newcastle, Newfields, Newington, Newmarket, Newton, North Hampton, Portsmouth, Rollinsford, Rye, Seabrook, Somersworth, South Hampton and Stratham.