Written by Level Home Staff
Whether you’re preparing to drop your kids off at college or grade school, chances are they will need supplies for the school year. It can be overwhelming to sort through all the back to school sales for the items you need and easy to miss something important, so we created a checklist to help.
Please note, these lists cover the basics and can be adjusted based on specific school requirements and personal preferences. Some websites offer tools that can help you find your school supply list.
Jump to a school supplies list:
Tip: Try ordering your school supplies from Walmart+ InHome to save you and your family some time this back-to-school shopping season
No matter what grade your child is stepping into, they will benefit from these universal school supplies:
Backpack/book bag
Lunchbox
Folders
Writing utensils
Notebooks
Tissues
Hand sanitizer
Water bottle (check out Stanley’s back to school collection)
Elementary, or grade-school as some call it, is where younger children practice the building blocks of their educational future. Kids in elementary school will often learn with fun craft projects and have plenty of play-time for learning social skills, so the back-to-school essentials are geared more toward art supplies.
Pencil box
Crayons
Markers
Colored pencils
Safety scissors
Construction paper
Glue/glue sticks
Flashcards
Ruler
Dry erase markers
Middle school supplies tend to be more practical than fun as kids move into more traditional classes and schedules.
Binders (with dividers)
College-ruled notebooks
Pencil case
Pencils, pens, and highlighters
Erasers
Pocket folders
Index cards
Sticky notes
Graph paper
Graphing calculators
Combination lock (for lockers)
Shopping for high school supplies involves thinking about what students need for success in more advanced classes than middle or elementary school, and paying some mind to what tests they need to prepare for (SATs, ACTs, etc.). Oftentimes high school is the first time students will experience split-classes, making organization and planning a must.
Binders (with dividers)
Sticky tabs for marking important information
Study guides and reference books
Notebooks (eg., college-ruled, multi-subject, spiral, etc.)
Pencil case
Pencils, pens, and highlighters
Erasers
Pocket folders
Index cards
Sticky notes
Graph paper
Combination lock (for lockers)
Graphing calculator
Planner/agenda
Laptop or tablet
Supplies for specific clubs, sports, or extracurricular activities (e.g., musical instruments, sports gear)
For many teens, high school is a time for gaining independence and taking on new responsibilities. They will be able to get themselves to and from school without a parents’ help, begin working, and may even get a drivers license. For both parents and kids, this is a big adjustment. Consider installing a smart lock with a keypad to give you peace of mind that your kids can safely get in and out of the house when you’re not home, even if they misplace their house key.
Going off to college is an exciting time for young adults. Buying supplies for moving into university housing is a bit more intensive than getting supplies for other school-levels as you have to make sure to buy personal essentials for the student as well. This list isn’t exhaustive, but it can help make your back to school shopping a little easier this year:
Laptop or tablet
Chargers and cables
Notebooks (eg., digital, college-ruled, multi-subject, spiral, etc.)
Binders (with dividers)
Folders (with pockets)
Pens and pencils
Highlighters
Erasers
Planner/agenda
Index cards
Sticky notes
USB drive
Scientific or graphing calculator
Textbooks and required reading materials
Desk supplies (e.g., stapler, paper clips, tape)
Personal organization tools (e.g., file folders, desk organizers)
Bedding (typically twin XL sized)
Desk lamp
Storage containers
Shower caddy (and shower essentials like shampoo, conditioner, body wash, razors, etc.)
Shower shoes
Towels
Laundry supplies (eg., detergent, fabric softener, clothes basket, stain remover etc.)
Trash bags
Air purifier
Microwave
Coffee maker
Mini fridge
Noise-canceling headphones
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Face wash
Deodorant
Remember to check with your school for any unique or specific supplies requirements!
