Welcome to MASD’s 2026-2027 Back-to-School Center, a resource for families for popular back-to-school topics.
Topics and related links are listed in alphabetical order. The
For Parents page of the District website offers more in-depth, comprehensive information, including resources for specific student needs, handbooks, and parent forms.
For MAPS and Reid Elementary families: we appreciate your continued patience and understanding as we work through final construction details. We will continue to share additional information with you as it becomes available.
The first day of school for all students is Thursday, August 27.
2026-27 School Hours
Middletown Area High School
7:35 a.m. - 2:15 p.m.
Middletown Area Middle School
8:05 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.
Reid Elementary School
8:35 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.
Middletown Area Primary School
9:05 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.
Back-to-School Topics
Annual Student Forms
Each school year, parents/guardians must complete the student verification process by updating student forms in the
PowerSchool Parent Portal. This process must be done for each student enrolled in the District. The student verification process for the current school year can be completed on a computer or through the PowerSchool app.
More detailed information about PowerSchool, including how to update your information and retrieve portal credentials, can be found on the
For Parents section of the website.
Athletics
Our
Athletics page contains game schedules, participation forms, and important dates for students and athletes. MASD is committed to offering our students a wide variety of athletic opportunities designed to be an extension of the total educational development process of our students.
Attendance
To report your child's absence from school, please contact the school before the scheduled start of the school day and provide the reason for the absence. This procedure enables both the home and school to know the whereabouts of all students. If no call is received at the school, parents/guardians will receive an automated call that their student was marked absent for the day. When a student is absent, parents or guardians must submit a signed excuse note to the office or an absence excuse card upon their return.
If a student needs to be excused from school for part of the day for an appointment, a note or email from a parent/guardian must be submitted to the office for prior approval.
Back to School Elementary Sneak Peek and Middle/High School Orientations
Our elementary buildings will host kindergarten orientations and student ‘sneak peek’ events. The middle school and high school will also host summer orientations for sixth graders and freshmen. Students in grades 6-12 who are new to the District are welcome and encouraged to attend the summer orientations. These events allow families and students to tour the buildings and learn about their child’s school before the first day. All summer orientation dates are on the
District homepage and Calendar.
Back to School Open House
Back-to-School Open House Nights will take place at each of our buildings. This is a time for parents and guardians to meet teachers, tour classrooms, and get important information for a successful school year. Open House dates are on the
District Calendar.
Before and After School Care
For the 2026-27 school year, the District is partnering with Champions to provide before- and after-school care for students in kindergarten through 5th-grade. The program will be hosted at MAPS and will be available to students from both MAPS and Reid Elementary.
Champions is in the process of completing the state's required child care licensing, and it is estimated that the program will be ready to open in November. Registration and enrollment information will be sent to families as it becomes available.
Bus Assignments and Transportation
Bus assignments and route information are available in PowerSchool. Information was also mailed to families.
The District requires a parent/guardian to accompany a kindergarten student to and from bus stops and to and from school buildings at all times. A parent/guardian may authorize another responsible adult to accompany, pick up, or drop off a kindergarten student at a bus stop by completing the Responsible Designated Adult for Kindergartners form. A separate form must be completed for each kindergarten student and each time changes are made throughout the school year.
Additional transportation forms and information, including car rider procedures and bus safety tips, are available in the
For Parents section of the website.
Calendar
The 2026-27 academic calendar is a one-page, printable calendar showing school days, scheduled school closures and early dismissals, testing dates, and make-up days. A similar printable month-by-month wall calendar is also available. Calendars and a list of daily events can be found on the
District homepage.
Children's Health Insurance Program
Pennsylvania’s Children’s Health Insurance Program covers all uninsured kids and teens (up to age 19). Coverage includes doctor visits, dental care, eye care, prescriptions, immunizations, mental health, and much more. For many families, CHIP is free, with no copays or monthly premiums. Families with higher incomes may qualify for low-cost or at-cost CHIP, which still includes the same comprehensive benefits. Families whose incomes fall below CHIP guidelines may be enrolled in Medical Assistance. CHIP enrollment information is available by visiting the Children’s Health Insurance Program website or calling 800-986-KIDS.
Family-School Communication
MASD’s PowerSchool Parent Portal is the one-stop shop for parent/guardian-school connection and communication. Parents/guardians can view student grades, track attendance, complete permission forms, and much more. The PowerSchool Parent Portal also allows you to make real-time changes to your student’s information at any time throughout the year.
SchoolMessenger is the District’s communication system that contacts parents/guardians by phone, text, and email with District announcements, emergency messages, and weather-related messages.
Each school year, parents/guardians must complete the student verification process by updating student forms in the PowerSchool Parent Portal. This process must be done for each student enrolled in the District. The student verification process for the current school year can be completed on a computer or through the PowerSchool app.
More detailed information about PowerSchool, including how to update your information and retrieve portal credentials, can be found on the
For Parents section of the website.
Food Services
MASD understands the importance of student nutrition and partners with the food service management company Metz Culinary Services to provide students with well-balanced meals in accordance with the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act.
To ensure your child's safety, please inform the District of any food allergies or dietary needs through the Food Services Form in the PowerSchool Parent Portal. This information will be added to the cafeteria system to manage food restrictions.
Free Breakfast and Lunch for All Students
Middletown Area School District school buildings have been designated as Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) sites, meaning all MASD students will be eligible to receive a complete breakfast and lunch daily at no cost. There is no application process for the program - all MASD students are automatically eligible.
Community Eligibility Provision is available to schools and districts that participate in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. The program requires students to receive a complete, reimbursable meal (breakfast or lunch), meaning they cannot simply take one or two food items as a reimbursable meal. Our cafeteria staff will guide and instruct students to pick up additional food item(s) in the event they do not have a reimbursable meal.
Students can still purchase additional lunches and à la carte items with cash or through SchoolCafé, the District’s online meal management platform. If there is a negative balance on the student's account, à la carte items must be paid with cash.
Additional information about the CEP Program, including what makes a reimbursable meal, is available on the
For Parents page of the District website.
Lunch Menus
Lunch menus will be posted on the
District’s homepage and the
Food Services page.
RaiderPacks
The Middletown Area School District partners with the Blue Raider Foundation, the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, and MidWest Food Bank to provide families with RaiderPacks, which contain breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack options to cover weekend meals. All Middletown Area School District families are eligible to receive RaiderPacks, but registration is necessary.
RaiderPack registration is now open, and distribution will begin Thursday, September 17. For registration and distribution information, visit the
RaiderPacks webpage.
Health Services
Our health services page contains a helpful guide on when to keep your child home from school because of illness, as well as information about immunizations, physical and dental exams, and medications in school.
The District hosts medication drop-off events before the start of school. Dates, times, and locations of medicine drop-off events can be found on the
District calendar.
New Student Registration and Orientation
If you are new to the Middletown Area School District, we extend a special welcome to Raider Nation! The Middletown Area School District's Student Registration page provides parents and guardians with useful information on the District's student registration procedures.
Parents/guardians of students in grades K-12 moving between schools within the district do not need to complete an enrollment application, but do need to update a change of address through the PowerSchool Parent Portal.
New student orientations are scheduled for both Middletown Area High School and Middletown Area Middle School (MAMS). Our elementary buildings will also host sneak peek events for students. Dates and times for all new student orientations can be found on the
District homepage.
Raider Academy
MASD's goal is for every student to take ownership of their learning, and we know some students learn best in environments other than a traditional school building. MASD's Raider Academy offers students in grades K-12 a personal and customized virtual learning experience while still being part of the Blue Raider community.
Raider Apparel Spirit Wear
Show your Raider Pride with spirit wear! Raider apparel is conveniently available for purchase online in a variety of designs and styles. Individual buildings, athletic teams, and clubs also offer spirit wear apparel for sale.
Staff Directory
Our Staff Directory can help you easily connect with your child’s teacher or the right staff person for your needs.
Schedules
Student schedules and class assignments can be accessed through the PowerSchool Parent Portal. When viewing your student’s schedule, this is a great time to update student forms for the upcoming school year.
School Closings and Delays
The District has implemented a pre-planned inclement-weather day schedule to provide more consistency and clarity for students, parents, and staff.
Starting in the 2026-27 school year, the District will eliminate virtual learning days and return to traditional snow days. This change reflects a commitment to reducing screen time and ensuring instruction remains meaningful and at the level students deserve. If the District exceeds the allotted snow make-up days, additional days will be added to the end of the school year as needed. The District will retain up to five Flexible Instruction Days (FID) for extreme circumstances only.
The District will notify families about weather-related school closures and delays by phone, text, and email. Closure and delay information will also be on local television news stations and posted on the District website and Facebook page.
School Supplies
All necessary classroom supplies are provided for students. For middle school, it is recommended that students have a binder with six different folders to help with organization. For high school students, specific requirements will be shared by building principals and/or classroom teachers.
Student Accident Insurance
Middletown Area School District incurs the cost of accident insurance to assist in covering student injuries that occur during District-authorized events such as athletics, field trips, and gym classes. In addition, the District offers families the option of purchasing the following additional accident, life, and dental coverage for students. More information is available on the
Student Insurance page.
Student Handbooks
Elementary and Secondary Student Handbooks, as well as a Student Code of Conduct Handbook, will be posted in the
For Parents section of the website closer to the start of school.
Technology
Please review the iPad Guidelines and Responsibilities with your student. Parents/guardians and students are also required to sign a District iPad agreement. Agreements can be found on the
For Parents page of the District website.