More than 32,000 Stockton Unified School District students returned to 55 schools on July 30 as the district began the 2026-27 school year focused on sustaining recent academic gains and expanding student support and school safety initiatives.
At Spanos Elementary School in south Stockton, students walked onto campus carrying backpacks nearly as big as they were ahead of the 8 a.m. start of the school day. Some hugged their parents goodbye before entering through the school’s front gate as their parents took photographs.
Stockton Unified was the second San Joaquin County public school district to welcome students back for the new school year. Lodi Unified School District resumed classes on July 24, while Tracy Unified School District is scheduled to begin the 2026-27 school year on Aug. 3…