Progress Report
Huntsville City Schools News & Updates: August 3, 2026
Kindergarten Staggered Start August 5-7
HCS will enact the following staggered start schedule for our kindergarten students to support a smooth transition into school:
Wednesday, August 5th: Only Group A will attend.
Thursday, August 6th: Only Group B will attend; group A will not.
Friday, August 7th: All kindergarten students will attend together.
August 5th-18th: Over a ten day period, kindergarten students will be observed by teachers and school leaders to determine the best classroom assignments.
Once kindergarten students are registered, school leaders will then determine which students should attend on August 5th or 6th and communicate to families as early as possible. Parents/guardians are asked to have students practice knowing their first and last names. Furthermore, students in other grades (including siblings) should attend school on both August 5th and 6th as normal unless they are in pre-k.
Transportation will operate as usual.
Lastly, please contact your child’s school if you need additional assistance.
Pre-K Staggered Start August 10-14
Pre-K will begin with a staggered start the week of August 10, 2026 to help our youngest learners transition smoothly into school.
- August 10 & 11: Group A attends
- August 12 & 13: Group B attends
- August 14: All Pre-K students attend
2026-2027 Student Code of Conduct
Huntsville City Schools has revised its Student Code of Conduct based on feedback from teachers, principals, students, their families, and the community.
Find the 2026-2027 Student Code of Conduct on the Behavioral Learning website page.
Bus Route Information Available
Bus route information for the 2026-27 school year can be viewed in the Powerschool Parent Portal. Parents will have received an email with bus assignment information at the primary email address the district has on file in Powerschool for parents who have completed the registration process. Parents who have any questions about route placement should call the Transportation Call Center at 256-428-6911.
School Start Times
Elementary: 8 AM - 2:30PM
Jr. High/Middle School: 8 AM - 3 PM
AAA/ASFL (all grades): 8 AM - 3 PM
High School: 8:30 AM - 3:40 PM
HCS Transitioning to New Online Payment Platform
Huntsville City Schools is transitioning to a new online payment platform for student fees and school-related items called SchoolCash Online.
What it replaces: All online payments for school fees, class items, and activity payments will move to SchoolCash Online.
What is NOT changing: Meal payments (CNP) will stay on EZSchoolPay. Lunch accounts will continue to function as usual through EZSchoolPay.
Parent Registration Process
Parents and guardians will need to create a free account and attach their student(s) to their profile. They can register in two ways:
Invitation Email: Primary guardians listed in PowerSchool will receive an automatic email invitation.
School Website: Parents can also register directly at huntsvillecs.schoolcashonline.com or by clicking the School Fees button on any Huntsville City Schools website.
Once registered, parents will automatically receive email notifications whenever new fees or items are added for their child.
Updated Policy for Free & Reduced-Price Meals & Continuation of Community Eligibility Program
Huntsville City Schools announced its policy for free and reduced-price meals for children served in schools under the National School Lunch Program and/or School Breakfast Program. For School Year 2026-2027, Huntsville City Schools will continue participation in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). All children at participating HCS schools will receive breakfast and lunch at no charge under this provision.
CEP is a key provision of the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010, which allows schools in low-income areas to eliminate school meal applications and serve breakfast and lunch at no charge to all enrolled students. Breakfast and lunch meals will follow the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) guidelines for healthy school meals, so please encourage students to participate.
See more information on the Child Nutrition department page under the Community Eligibility Program (CEP) as well as the Free/Reduced Price Meals headings, which includes information about which schools are participating, how to apply, and a frequently asked questions document.
Child & Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)
The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is a federal program that provides reimbursements for nutritious meals and snacks to eligible children and adults. CACFP contributes to the wellness, healthy growth, and development of young children and adults in the United States.
Listed below are the Child and Adult Care Food Program locations within the Huntsville City School District for School year 2026-27.
Schools Offering CACFP Meals
AAA ES
AAA MS
ASFL ES
ASFL MS
Blossomwood ES
Chaffee ES
Chapman MS
Columbia HS
Dawson ES
Farley ES
Highlands ES
Jemison HS
Lakewood ES
Lee HS
McDonnell ES
MLK Jr. ES
Montview ES
Morris ES
Providence ES
Ridgecrest ES
Rolling Hills ES
Sonnie Hereford ES
Whitesburg MS
Williams ES
2026 HCS Staff Institute
Nearly 3,000 employees came together across five feeder patterns for Staff Institute, Huntsville City Schools' annual professional learning event, to prepare for the start of the new school year!
Watch: 2026 Staff Institute.
New Student and Returning Student Registration
All parents/guardians who need to complete student registration for the 2026-2027 school year may do so by visiting the Enrollment page on the HCS website and selecting "New Student Registration" or "Returning Student Registration."
Returning student registration requires a snapcode to access the record. Snapcodes are visible in the Powerschool Parent Portal. Please contact your child's school for assistance.
Buses & Transportation
Bus assignment information is available on the Powerschool Parent Portal for the primary custodial parents of students registered for bus transportation.
To ensure bus route assignment for the start of the 2026-27 school year, please ensure that you complete new or returning student registration and choose Regular School Bus Transportation. Please complete this process ASAP.
College Crash Course for Seniors
It's time to prepare for college applications! Join HCS District College Counselors for helpful tips and information about the senior year timeline, college application process, scholarships, financial aid, essays, resumes, letters of recommendation, and transcript requests. HCS rising 12th grade students can attend the session that best fits their schedule. Student sessions are for students only, and two separate parent sessions are offered as well.
Student Session Options (Students ONLY):
Jemison High: August 3, 2026 from 1:00PM-3:00PM (VILT Lab)
Parent Session Options:
Zoom Session: August 3, 2026 from 6:00PM-7:30PM (Zoom)
26-27 Behavioral Learning Parent & Community Outreach Session August 14
Join us Friday, August 14 at 12:00 PM on Facebook Live to learn about Huntsville City Schools' behavioral expectations and supports for the 2026–27 school year.
The presentation will provide an overview of the Student Code of Conduct, Restorative Practices, and PBIS, while highlighting how HCS fosters a positive learning environment that supports students' academic, behavioral, social, and emotional growth.
Celebrating Education Day Parade on August 22
The annual Celebrating Education Day Parade and Festival will be held on Saturday, August 22, 2026 at 8 AM. Come out and support our schools!
View open positions and apply now by visiting huntsvillecityschools.org/jobs.
First Student is Hiring Bus Drivers
NOW HIRING: School Bus Drivers & Monitors!
Looking for a meaningful way to make an impact in your community? First Student is hiring!
- Paid CDL training
- Starting pay: $21.85/hr (Driver) | $13.50/hr (Monitor)
- 4-hour daily guarantee + weekly pay
- Child ride-along program
- Extra earning potential
WALK-IN WEDNESDAY:
- Every Wednesday | 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- 2906 McJohn Circle SW, Huntsville, AL 35805
Apply, interview, and take the first step toward a rewarding career! Apply now: First Student.
City of Huntsville Hiring Safety Patrol Aides
The City of Huntsville’s Public Safety division is seeking qualified applicants to fill part-time Safety Patrol Aide positions. Safety Patrol provides crossing guards for schools. Crossing guards help ensure the safety of school children each day at hazardous or congested school crossing locations. This is responsible work in expediting the safe movement of pedestrians and vehicular traffic in school zones or during special events.
Huntsville City Schools
The mission of Huntsville City Schools is to provide a safe and supportive learning environment characterized by quality staff, rigorous academic instruction, innovative programs, outstanding extracurricular opportunities, and exceptional resources.
Connect with HCS
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