About 5,700 Colonial School District students returned to class Monday, Aug. 31, for the first day of the 2026-27 school year across all seven district schools.

Students from Conshohocken and Plymouth and Whitemarsh townships filed into buildings where principals stood ready to greet them. Crossing guards helped families navigate the morning rush. At Colonial Middle School, Principal Dr. Shawn Kaplan was out front welcoming students as they walked through the doors, according to Main Line Media News.

Jessica Lester, the district's community relations coordinator, told The Reporter on Sept. 1 that the energy was hard to miss. "The first day of school is one of the best days of the year, because the excitement is palpable and there are so many smiles and hugs shared as people reunite after summer," Lester said.

The Aug. 31 opening marked the third straight year Colonial SD has started before Labor Day, according to the district. The school board voted unanimously at its Wednesday, Aug. 26 meeting to keep that pattern going, approving a pre-Labor Day start for the 2027-28 school year as well. That will make it four years running.

Board members pointed to several reasons for the August calendar. Starting before Labor Day gives students more instructional time before winter break. It also puts Colonial SD in sync with neighboring districts and Central Montco Technical High School, the career and technical school that serves district students. And it allows the school year to wrap up by the second week of June, giving families a longer summer window.

The pre-Labor Day schedule has been a point of discussion in districts across Montgomery County in recent years, with Colonial among those that shifted away from the traditional post-holiday start. The unanimous Aug. 26 vote suggests the board sees the tradeoff as worthwhile.

For families planning ahead, the 2027-28 first day of school is set for Monday, Aug. 30, 2027.