Students welcomed back for the start of the 2023-24 school year

Colonial School District welcomed back students in grades 1 through 12 on Sept. 5, the first day of the 2023-24 school year for most of Colonial's approximately 5,600 students. 

Kindergarten students are set to arrive on Sept. 11, with some unique distinctions. As of the end of August, the incoming kindergarten class had 17 sets of twins. For more on the "twin-dergarteners", click here. The district's new kindergarten class has 407 students total, according to numbers shared at the Aug. 24th School Board meeting by Superintendent Dr. Michael Christian. 

The second-grade class has even more students, with 513 enrolled. That's quite an increase when considering that this year's graduating class, the Class of 2024, has approximately 350 students. 

Regardless of enrollment shifts, students are happy to be back in the classroom.

"I'm excited that I get to meet new people," said Deacon Chud, a sixth-grader at Colonial Middle School.

Lexie House, a senior, is anticipating all that the final year of high school has to offer.

"We're seniors, this is the last time getting to do this," said the Plymouth Whitemarsh High School student.. "I'm looking forward to getting my cosmetology license and getting my diploma."

Liz Gahm, a parent of a middle school student, alluded to the promise that each new school year brings.

"It’s a whole new chapter; we’re excited to get it started," she said, noting that her son is going into sixth-grade. "He’s been missing his friends all summer. He’s excited to meet some new teachers and get into the technology classes." 

Parents and guardians who took pictures of their children on the first day of school are invited to send them to us by clicking here. Photos will be used in a video slideshow celebrating the first day back to school.