WRAL is your back-to-school HQ!

While many year-round students have already started classes, Aug. 25 marks the first day of the 2025-2026 academic year for most traditional calendar students.

Share your photos

It's time to kick off a new school year, and what better way to celebrate than sharing your first day of school photos! Whether a traditional or year-round student, part of a home school — or you may be a teacher, bus driver or other school personnel — share your back-to-school photos through Aug. 31 for a chance to be featured on WRAL, WRAZ or WNGT!

The first day of school is August 25

While many year-round students have already started classes, Aug. 25 marks the first day of the 2025-2026 academic year for most traditional calendar students.

All drivers should be ready for more traffic on the roads and drive slowly in school zones. Here are some helpful tips and reminders.

North Carolina school bus laws

The North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles has a guide to the state's school bus stop laws.

Most of us know all vehicles must stop for school buses on two lane roads, even if there is a turn lane.

The confusion often comes when there are four lanes. If a four-lane road does not have any kind of median, everyone in both directions must stop. If that four-lane road has something in the middle, whether it’s a center turn lane or any kind of a median, only drivers behind and beside the bus must stop.

Drivers headed in the opposite direction can keep traveling.

Drivers should also learn the flashing signal light system that school buses use.

According to the Department of Transportation, yellow flashing lights indicate the bus is preparing to stop to load or unload children. Drivers should slow down and prepare to stop their vehicles.

Red flashing lights and extended stop arms indicate the bus has stopped and children are getting on or off. Drivers must stop their cars and wait until the red lights stop flashing, the extended stop-arm is withdrawn, and the bus begins moving before they can start driving again.

School supply shopping

5 On Your Side went shopping to find where school supplies cost less, comparing the costs of six items across stores like Walmart, Target and Dollar Tree. Here are the findings.

Save on back-to-school items: Where to find the best deals on six popular items

SmartShopper also has a list of the best school supply deals.

Tips for families

WRAL.com has numerous other stories for children and parents as they get ready for the return of the school day routine and balancing assignments with work and family responsibilities.

Raleigh police want drivers to slow down around school zones

Raleigh police have been patrolling 26 school zones in recent weeks after the start of the school year.

The new PowerSchool: NC parents need to sign up for Campus Parent to access school information

Parents and guardians need to open a Campus Parent account -- part of the new Infinite Campus system -- to be able to access student information the same way that they did with PowerSchool. Thousands of parents haven't done that yet.

Emily Walkenhorst, WRAL K-12 enterprise reporter

North Carolina school districts work to adjust cellphone rules and statewide ban

NC school districts race to update guidelines for cellphones in the classroom. WRAL Investigates which school systems still have big changes to make.

New year, new cellphone policies: How NC schools are restricting phones, watches and other devices

More North Carolina public school students are subject to cellphone bans and restrictions. Some are facing the rules for the first time.

Emily Walkenhorst and Destinee Patterson, WRAL reporters

New year, new cellphone policies: How NC schools are restricting phones, watches and other devices

5 On Your Side: Discounts to help college students save money

College students often try to make ends meet on a small budget. The good news? There are a lot of student discounts out there. 5 On Your Side's Keely Arthur is uncovering the best deals to help students save more and stress less.

The science behind school bus yellow

Chosen nearly 100 years ago, the science says the more-orange-than-yellow color is close to the perfect choice for the job.

Tony Rice, NASA Ambassador

New Wake County schools open to alleviate overcrowding

Wake County welcomes the new school year with four new schools to address overcrowding, including the district's largest: Felton Grove High School. Students and parents expressed excitement and anticipation as they embrace new traditions and opportunities.

Students attend new schools in Wake County alleviate overcrowding

Go Ask Dad: The ABCs of back-to-school

Embark on the back-to-school journey with Andrew Taylor-Troutman's whimsical ABC guide. From Amazon deliveries to Chromebook essentials, discover the A-Z of school life.

5 On Your Side: How Wake County schools are keeping kids safe online

The internet can be a dangerous place for young kids, but it can also be a critical learning tool. 5 On Your Side asked Wake County educators how schools manage the risk when they connect students to the internet at school.

Wake superintendent talks new cellphone policy on first day of school

Dr. Robert Taylor, superintendent for Wake schools, talks about a new district-wide cellphone policy and his plans for a successful new school year.

Gov. Josh Stein visits Raleigh elementary school; changes in place at Wake schools

Monday, Aug. 25, marks the first day of the 2025-2026 school year for thousands of traditional calendar students in Wake, Durham, Johnston and other counties. Gov. Josh Stein greeted students at Washington Magnet Elementary School in Raleigh.

First day of school kicks off with Stein visit, new cellphone policy, lunch changes and more

Monday, Aug. 25, marks the first day of the 2025-2026 school year for thousands of traditional calendar students in Wake, Durham and Johnston counties.

New schools to welcome students for the first time in Wake County

Thousands of students in Wake County are preparing for the new school year, some in a new building. County officials have opened four new schools in Wake County as part of their plan to reduce overcrowding.

Wake County welcomes over 100,000 students back to school with new campuses opening Monday

Over 100,000 Wake County students are gearing up for the new school year, with many experiencing new campuses. The newly built Felton Grove High School is one of four new schools in the county, aiming to ease overcrowding.

DRAUGHON DRAWS: North Carolina's back to school basics

Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025-- Capitol Broadcasting Company's editorial cartoonist

Frequency, balance are keys to healthy school lunches

A Wake County dietician talks about what kids need nutritionally to set themselves up for success in the classroom.

Turning the tassel: What students entering high school should know

Teens are taking on new challenges like learning to drive, handling demanding academic loads, diving into extracurricular activities and keeping a healthy social life. It can be a lot to juggle.

Triangle health pros talk caffeine, routine and screen time's impact on sleep

Duke Health specialist Sujay Kansagra and UNC Health physician Victoria Boggiano have some guidance for students trying to get back into the school-day routine by getting quality sleep.

Moving on to middle school: What kids and parents need to know for a new stage

An expanded group of peers, rising expectations and bodily changes are all part of the process for students entering middle school.

From A to Zzzz: Sleep a big part of getting kids back into the school time routine

Duke Health specialist Sujay Kansagra and UNC Health physician Victoria Boggiano have some guidance for kids trying to get enough sleep before class after a summer of relaxation and fun.

Durham Rescue Mission hosts back-to-school party, backpack giveaway

A Duke non-profit is helping kids get ready for the new schoolyear as part of their annual back-to-school party.

5 On Your Side: Tariff impacts on school supplies drive big ways to save tons for families

Back-to-school season is here, and families are facing rising costs due to increased tariffs on school supplies. Despite these challenges, savvy shoppers can mitigate expenses by strategizing their purchases.

5 On Your Side: Helping kids get back to a school-night sleep schedule

Your child's summer sleep schedule rarely mixes well with back to school.

Helping kids get back on their back-to-school sleep schedule

5 on Your Side's Keely Arthur shares some ways parents can help kids return to their school-year sleep schedule without a hitch so their grades don't drop.