Getting ready for “Back to School” in Upstate, South Carolina? We have all the information you need about school start dates, and education options, plus places where you can find free school supplies in Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson, and Pickens, and back-to-school celebrations for that last bit of summer fun.
School supplies are expensive!
You can get free school supplies at these events in Greenville and the Upstate.
When does public school start?
Greenville County Schools begins classes Monday, August 11, 2025
Spartanburg Districts 1 – 7 begin classes Monday, August 11, 2025
Anderson Districts 1 – 5 begin classes Tuesday, August 5, 2025
School District of Pickens County begins classes Friday, August 1, 2025
Educational Options in the Upstate: If you have questions about your schooling options, this is the place to start. Find summaries and resources for all the public school, private school, virtual school, and homeschool options the Upstate.
Greenville County School District
The Greenville County School District’s first day of school is Monday, August 11, 2025. The 2025-2026 School Calendar is available on the greenville.k12.sc.us website.
Everything You Need to Know About Back-to-School: Greenville County Schools
For more information about public schools in Greenville County, check out our Guide to Greenville County Public Schools! We have school calendars, menus, registration information, a tutorial for GCS Backpack, and lots more! You’ll want to bookmark this guide.
You can find out more about private schools in our area in our Private School Guide to Greenville.
Find Free School Supplies in Greenville, SC
If you or someone you know needs help purchasing school supplies for this year, don’t miss this list of Events with Free School Supplies. And if you’re not sure what supplies your child needs, check with your child’s school website for a detailed list.
Spartanburg County School Districts 1 – 7
Spartanburg County Schools operate as seven separate districts. Each district starts the 2025-2026 academic year on Monday, August 11, 2025 You can find registration requirements, bus information, and more on each district’s website, which is listed below.
Spartanburg District Sites:
If you want to find more specific information about each district or you are new to Spartanburg and our area schools, see our Guide to Spartanburg County School Districts.
You can find out more about private schools in our area in our Private School Guide to Spartanburg.
Free School Supplies in Spartanburg, SC
Need help with school supplies? Here’s a list of events where kids can get free school supplies in Spartanburg. If you need to find your child’s school supply list, visit their school’s website.
Anderson County School Districts 1 – 5
Anderson County Schools operate by 5 separate districts. Classes will start on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, for all districts for the 2025-2026 academic year. Information about each district’s schedules, bus information, registration, and more can be found on their individual websites.
Free School Supplies in Anderson, SC
Need help finding school supplies in Anderson, SC? Check out our list of free school supply events in the Upstate. You can find a detailed list of school supplies need for your child on their school’s website.
School District of Pickens County
The School District of Pickens County begins classes on Friday, August 1, 2025. The 2025-2026 academic calendar can be found on the School District of Pickens County website, with additional information about registration, bus schedules, specific schools, and much more.
Planning to enroll in a charter school? Pickens County offers several charter schools that can be an alternative to your child’s education.
Free School Supplies in the Upstate
In need of school supplies in Pickens County? We have a list of dozens of free school supply events throughout the upstate where you can get supplies for your child.
Looking for school uniforms shouldn’t be hard, right?!
Here’s Kidding Around reader advice on the best places to get school uniforms that will actually fit your kids!
Start the school year off well!
See these Back-to-School Hacks from our readers.
Events to Celebrate Back to School: Greenville, SC & The Upstate
Countdown to Kindergarten
The Children’s Museum of the Upstate
130 Magnolia Street, Spartanburg 29306
Friday, August 1, 2025 from 5 – 7 pm
This FREE event prepares children and families for an exciting kindergarten year. Geared toward families with children entering 3K, 4K, and Kindergarten, this event gives families an opportunity to connect with an array of community partners focused on student success and childhood development. Please RSVP (Free Event)
Countdown to Kindergarten
United Way School Tools
Carolina High School | 2725 Anderson Road, Greenville, SC
9 AM – 2 PM
Saturday, August 2nd, 2025
Free school supplies, along with backpacks, binders, notebooks, and more. You’ll also receive information on free or low-cost community resources, free food, family fun, and more.
United Way School Tools Day
Back-to-School Picnic and Backpack Giveaway
20 Bell Road, Greenville
Woodruff Road Christian Church
Saturday, August 2, 2025 from 11 am
Back to School Picnic with free school supplies. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
National Night Out Event
Town of Duncan
121 South Spencer Street, Duncan
Tuesday, August 5th, 2025, 5 pm – 8 pm
Back-to-school supplies, Duncan’s Police, Fire, Mayor, Council, and more!
National Night Out
Back to School & Community Resource BASH
Elks Lodge, 7700 Pelham Road, Greenville
Saturday, August 16, 2025 at 10 am
Free school supply giveaway, food, and games. There will also be touch-a-truck!
Elks Lodge Back to School Bash
Back to School Bash
4 Points Church, 2355 S Highway 101, Greer
TBD for 2025
In partnership with the Middle Tiger Community Center, there will be lots of fun and goodies.
Back to School Bash at 4 Points Church
Back to School Bash at projectROCK Easley
projectROCK Easley
TBD for 2025
The Back to School Bash will have live music, food trucks, shaved ice, and an opportunity to check out both sides of the facility.
projectROCK Easley Back-to-school Bash
Grill & Chill End of the Summer Party
Group Therapy Pub & Playground
TBD for 2025
Live music, burgers and hotdogs, drink specials, and Big Air outdoor games. The event is free and family friendly.
Group Therapy End of Summer Party
Back to School Splash
Morningside Baptist Church
TBD for 2025
Fun inflatables, games, popsicles. Please bring a towel!
Back to School Splash!
Back to School Bash at TCMU Greenville
The Children’s Museum of the Upstate- Greenville
TBD for 2025
Along with access to the museum, there will be a pool noodle obstacle course, dino dig sensory bin, exploding chaulk, pies in the face, and much more!
TCMU Back to School Bash Greenville
Find A LOT more Back to School events on our Kidding Around® Event Calendar
Are you ready for back-to-school Greenville, SC families? Let us know if we missed an event!
need to hear on any source of advertisement for free school supplies . verify the freetown center of handing out. I do list to the radio a lot. going to library when cell phone is off.
Emphasis in not letting the lottery system as the selection getting in to certain schools. I tried to get my daughter in to legacy and or charter school at Greenville tech. question of bullyng.
I just shop “the list”! Whatever the school has asked for I get but I get extra to give to the teacher to keep in the classroom.
Tax-free weekend is my favorite time to buy school gear: clothes, shoes, and backpacks.
Clothes for my little man!!
How can we learn about donating school supplies to teachers and schools? I’d like to give the items directly rather than to some organization where I don’t know where it ends up.
I’ve just asked my kid’s teacher what they need. They usually have a wishlist. Or contact the school now and see what they are looking for.
Usually supplies like pens, pencils, paper, etc. I also take advantage of the tax free weekend to get supplies for Samaritan Purse Christmas boxes!
Yes, that is such a great idea!
I like tax free weekend to buy clothes, shoes, under clothes, school supplies for both of my kids.
We always get our school supplies on tax free weekend 😊
School supplies and clothes!
Stay at home. You don’t save that much.
I usually wait to shop till after tax free weekend.
School supplies for use with my nanny kids.
We are shopping for shoes and clothes this weekend.
Tax free weekend is a godsend for school supplies, plus hitting the clearance racks for school clothes.
Clothes forged for the little one! It gets me focused for the upcoming school year. 😊
*not forged lol
Thanks for the chance. Great giveaway!
I shop the weekend before, I hate crowds 🙂
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THIS GREAT INFORMATION!!
I’ve cruised around online but haven’t bought anything right now
Love this resource!! Kidding around has been extremely helpful as we acclimate to our new home.
Shoe shopping – Houser has a sale!
Food haha
We used Tax Free Weekend to buy clothes for the kids and a new printer!
clothes and shoes
School supplies & clothes!
Would love to win!
Bookbag, lunchbox and moms teacher clothes!
A little extra time in the mall exploring!
We usually shop for school supplies and shoes🎒📓✏️👟
For tax free weekend, I bhy things for my classroom. I spend so much of my own money, so every cent saved is worth it! I also buy items for my own children.
Shoe/sneaker shopping at GB Shoes. Childrens selection is ok; not the greatest but they had a 30% off sale along with tax free.
Great time to get extra school supplies to donate, but also colored pencils, crayons, etc. for birthday gifts.
Just shopping for school supplies this year.
These soft shirts would be perfect for autistic grandson_ would love to win.
Tax free shipping
We bought pencils and paper at Staples, and some two sided folders. I also got a CD case for the car, and some CD-Rs so I don’t mess up the good copies of my CDs.
So excited to start our first school year in Greenville!
Usually electronics and tennis shoes.
School supply list, clothes and shoes!
We already did most of the school shopping weeks ago. I think I am more excited about my child’s starting school than he is!
Hi,
I shop for greaaat!!!!quality deals on tax free weekend. I like very special prices on excellent products like on Black Fridays. LOL, but on back to school tax free weekend. It does not benefit me if it is broken, shrunk in the washer, frayed after wearing in a week…so Great deals and great deals on quality merchandise does not necessary mean top name brands or we’ll known brands🤗
Buying shoes for my family of 6 is a must on the tax free weekend!
tax free weekend i purchase clothing for children
I shop for school supplies early, but tax free weekend is always a good time for clothes shopping!
I am raising four beautiful grandchildren and this is the first year they will all be in school
Super excited.
We shopped for school supplies and clothes!
I shop for shoes and clothing and all their school supplies they need to start the year!
Clothes clothes clothes! All the last minute essentials !
I usually shop for school supplies and try to buy in bulk.
Still working on supplies and clothes!
Shoes and school supplies are a must for tax-free… we buy all our clothes as we need them so there want much they needed this go round.
We shop for clothes and supplies on tax free weekend. Awesome deals!
We shop for everything from school clothes to materials needed!
I missed out on tax free weekend but now that I know about it will be looking out next time!
Thanks for all you do! I would love to win
I love this website because it always has great ideas what to do with the kids. You guys are the best!! Thank you.
usually not school supplies, too crazy!
Shoes, socks, underwear and school supplies
I was on vacation, so nothing!
This is awesome!
Bethany _missed you at the Park Hop closing. Thank you for all you do. Was too busy to shop during the tax free days_needs to be extended or give us a rain check!
Honestly I try to avoid tax free weekend. If I do go, I usually go for the necessary supplies for my son and our homeschool. Craft supplies are the best to get during that weekend.
We already shopped the tax free weekend but when we did, we got some shoes for the kids.
JCPenney has actually had great selection and sale for my daughter!
I am seeing that the united way b2school event is on Saturday the 18th. Double check before you go on the 12th.
We are still updating this list for for fall. It should be fully updated by next week.
Neighbor 2 Neighbor is a community wide initiative to let the Homeless/ Underprivileged communities in Greenville and surrounding areas know that we the Organizations, Churches, and Families in the upstate do care about everyone in our community! Neighbor 2 Neighbor Back to school BBQ will be held this year on Saturday, August 18th at Abundant Life Church in Berea (630 Farrs Bridge Rd) from 10am -2pm.