The average Eudora student will spend about $74 on school supplies this year, which is around 50% lower than the national average, according to the National Retail Federation. 

However, this cost does not account for new clothes, shoes, backpacks, electronics and tax. The National Retail Federation estimates that American families will spend about $875 total per student during the back-to-school season. 

This is a slight decrease from 2023, but nearly a $180 increase from 2019. 

The Eudora Schools Foundation provides help for families who need assistance getting school supplies. 

Monica Dittmer, the foundation’s volunteer and program coordinator, said families can request school supplies by visiting this website. Dittmer estimates the foundation will provide supplies to around 210 students this year. 

“We want every single kid in our community to have what they need to go back to school and be ready to focus on learning,” she said.

Dittmer also said that if any families are willing to provide extra supplies or make a donation, the foundation could help more students in need.

“If this is something you’re willing to support, I would just ask that folks consider making a financial donation,” she said. “I think our community is going to step up. It’s really important.”

As preparation begins for the back-to-school season, a recent trip to Target illustrated how much families can expect to spend on school supplies.

Students in kindergarten through eighth grades, as well as those attending the Early Learning Center, are to bring various items from pencils to Ziploc bags on the first day of class, according to the school district’s supply list.

The cost for each grade, not including taxes, is broken down below:

Early Learning Center supplies will cost about $64 per student.

Supplies include a pencil box, kid scissors, Pipsqueak Crayola markers, Crayola crayons, glue sticks, colored pencils, Play-Doh, Kleenex, folders, Clorox wipes, paper towels, Sharpies, and a backpack. Boys also have to bring a package of Velcro dots and a can of Lysol, while girls have to bring a package of baby wipes and quart-sized Ziploc bags.

Kindergarten supplies will cost about $78 per student.

Supplies include Crayola crayons, scissors, glue sticks, Kleenex, fine-tip Expo markers, washable Crayola markers, Crayola watercolor paints, vinyl folders, school box, a package of baby wipes, a water bottle, headphones, and Play-Doh. Boys also have to bring sandwich-size Ziploc bags while girls have to bring paper lunch sacks.

First grade supplies will cost about $66 per student.

Supplies include crayons, pre-sharpened pencils, scissors, glue sticks, fine-line Expo markers, washable markers, a wide-ruled spiral notebook, folders, a school box, headphones, Kleenex, and Play-Doh. Students also have the option to bring sandwich-size or gallon-size Ziploc bags.

Second grade supplies will cost about $66 per student.

Supplies include crayons, colored pencils, markers, Crayola watercolor paints, pencils, erasers, Expo markers, scissors, large glue sticks, wide-ruled spiral notebooks, a pencil pouch, folders, headphones, Play-Doh, and Kleenex. Students also have the option to bring sandwich-size or gallon-size Ziploc bags.

Third grade supplies will cost about $80 per student.

Supplies include crayons, pre-sharpened pencils, scissors, large glue sticks, Kleenex, Expo markers, washable markers, a watercolor paint set, wide-ruled spiral notebooks, a whiteboard eraser, folders, highlighters, a pencil box, colored pencils, a binder, a clip board, a small whiteboard, and headphones. Boys also have to bring sandwich-size Ziploc bags while girls have to bring gallon-size Ziploc bags. Students also have the option of bringing wide-ruled notebook paper.

Fourth grade supplies will cost about $63 per student.

Supplies include crayons, pencils, scissors, large glue sticks, Kleenex, Expo markers, washable markers, a watercolor paint set, folders, a Sharpie, colored pencils, a highlighter, a binder, a pencil pouch, and headphones or earbuds.

Fifth grade supplies will cost about $77 per student.

Supplies include crayons, pencils, scissors, large glue sticks, Kleenex, Expo markers, broad-tip washable markers, wide-ruled notebook paper, folders, pencil bag, colored pencils, a felt-tip pen, a highlighter, a red pen, a binder, Sharpies, headphones, and a bottle of Elmer’s glue. Boys also have to bring gallon-size Ziploc bags while girls have to bring sandwich-size Ziploc bags.

Sixth grade supplies will cost about $73 per student.

Supplies include pencils, a watercolor paint set, colored pencils, scissors, glue sticks, spiral notebooks, folders, Expo markers, highlighters, headphones or earbuds, a fabric pencil pouch, Sharpies or Flair pens, Band-Aids, and Kleenex. Boys will also have to bring disinfectant wipes while girls will have to bring Ziploc bags.

Seventh grade supplies will cost about $87 per student.

Supplies include folders, binders, Flair pens, spiral notebooks, composition notebooks, glue sticks, scissors, colored pencils, pencils, a highlighter, Expo markers, a pencil pouch, Kleenex, a calculator, and headphones or earbuds. Boys also have to bring gallon-size Ziploc bags while girls have to bring sandwich-size Ziploc bags.

Eighth grade supplies will cost about $85 per student.

Supplies include an accordion folder, composition notebooks, notebook paper, Post-It notes, notecards, colored pencils, markers, pencils, pens, a permanent marker, highlighters, Expo markers, glue sticks, a rule, scissors, a Ti-30XS MultiView calculator, earbuds, and a pencil pouch. Boys will also have to bring two boxes of Kleenex while girls will have to bring Clorox wipes.

For the full breakdown of supplies by grade level, click here. 

Reach reporter Ryn Drummond at [email protected]

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