July 22, 2025 – The final countdown is on for students as they return to classes in DeSoto County in just a few short days. For public school students In the DeSoto County School District, the first day of classes is around the corner on Thursday, July 31. Teachers will return to their school for the first time on Monday, July 28 to get ready to welcome their share of about 34,000 youngsters who make up the state’s largest public school district.
Students must be registered to attend classes in the DeSoto County School District, which has expanded hours at the Central Services Building in Hernando for that purpose.
The registration office will be open on July 22 at 7:30 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. Parents must be in the building one-half hour before closing time to be able to register at that time.
Extended hours will also be offered on Saturday, July 26 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., and again on Tuesday, July 29 from 7:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Again, parents must be in the building no later than one-half hour before closing time to register on that date.
Proof of residency is requested for students to be registered and this graphic indicates the documents required:
Students are in the final stages of getting their school supplies together and the DeSoto County Schools website has the list of what’s needed for each student in each grade at their school.
Those notebooks and other items are not cheap. A survey on the website Savings.com estimates the average price of supplies per student runs on average $628 per child, which includes clothing, electronics, and school supplies. If you’re focusing just on required school supplies, the average is about $90 per student, with additional costs for backpacks, shared classroom items, and physical exams adding to the total.
High school students tend to be the most expensive, averaging $800 per child, while elementary students come in around $620.
For that reason, events like the recent backpack giveaways held around the county have been extremely helpful for cutting costs. More are planned in the county ahead of the opening bell, including a Saturday, July 26 event at the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office.
Between 2-5 p.m. backpacks and school supplies will be given away in partnership with the Sheriff’s Office, pro football player Nakobe Dean and KH4L Foundation.
Bob Bakken provides content for DeSoto County News and its social media channels. He is an award-winning broadcaster, along with being a reporter and photographer, and has done sports media relations work with junior and minor league hockey teams. Along with his reports on this website, you will find this veteran media member providing sports updates and high school football play-by-play on Rebel 95.3 FM Radio.
