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Back to basics: A supply list for high school

Keep our school supply checklist handy to make your shopping as easy as A, B, C.
By GreatSchools Staff
 

What’s the smart way to shop for school supplies? Eliminate the guesswork by getting a list from your child’s teacher ahead of time or waiting until school starts to find out what’s actually required. The teacher may recommend specific brands, sizes, or quantities, but even if the list isn’t available, you can still take advantage of back-to-school sales (many states offer “tax-free days” during this season) by sticking to the basics recommended below. And remember, you can’t go wrong with tools that help kids get — and stay — organized.

The basics

No. 2 pencils

Mechanical pencils

Colored pencils

A pencil sharpener (hand-held with a top to collect shavings)

A large pink eraser

Ballpoint pens (Get a few red-ink ones too, because some teachers have students do peer editing.)

Highlighters

Spiral-bound or composition notebooks

Loose-leaf notebook paper (Teachers can be picky about paper — most ask that students use the college-ruled variety.)

A ruler with English and metric measurements

Organizational helpers

Several three-ring binders (Some teachers require that a binder be used exclusively for their class.)

A three-hole punch (a regular one or one that fits in a three-ring binder)

A pencil case that fits in a binder

Binder dividers (The kinds with pockets are good for loose papers.)

Pocket folders

Folders that fit in binders

A small notebook to record assignments

A calendar for scheduling assignments

A sturdy, supportive backpack (Some schools do not permit rolling backpacks because of space considerations, so check with your school before considering this option.)

Two combination locks (If the school lockers do not have built-in locks, your child might need one for the hallway and one for the gym.)

Study aids

Index cards, ruled and unruled (These are great for making flash cards.)

Highlighters

A calculator (Check with the math teacher first before investing in an expensive one. Graphing calculators, for example, are required in many high school math classes. Teachers advise parents not to buy a calculator with more functions than students will use.)

A protractor

 
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Comments from GreatSchools.net readers

09/1/2009:
"Yeaa, this really helped me,bc most of the time i show up at school with numerous school supplies, but this year im ahead! Im sooooooooo excited about h.s!"
09/1/2009:
"thank you so much! I couldn't find any class supply lists on my children's school websites, and the lists on here are so helpful! I noticed a lot of items that I forgot to buy that are probably very important!"
08/27/2009:
"thanks!"
08/27/2009:
"to the person who posted those craft supplies arent really needed. it depends soemtimes if you get in to a big report, then sumtimes u need a posterboard. and SOMETIMES the teachers dont offer the supplies becuase they get tired of kids stealing them."
08/24/2009:
"To the student who wrote the kleenex paragraph at the end of the page, I say this. GET OVER IT. We as a civilization are so focused on saving the planet, we are forgetting to focus on REAL problems. And yes, the list above is really good."
08/19/2009:
"Great list for hs on page 1. Don't really need all the craft stuff on p.2 for hs. "
08/18/2009:
"My son has some organizational issues. We used an accordian file instead of a binder last year and he kep his stuff organized all year he didn't have to clip everything in he could just drop it in for the right class and carry it for all his classes at once he was proud of himself at the end of each term. "
08/11/2009:
"i would rather you have a specifc list for a specific school but i guess this is good"
08/10/2009:
"A netbook"
07/21/2009:
"this really helped m a lot and it should help you too!!"
07/15/2009:
"thank you for giving us this list before school started so we wouldn't have to wait 'til all the stuff is gone at the store thank u once again..."
07/14/2009:
"Thanks for writing such a useful supply list. It was very useful, especially with the tips in parentheses. Keep up the good work!"
07/13/2009:
"this really elped me out a LOT. keep this up future reference please."
07/7/2009:
"This list will definitley help any one going to, or going back to high school. Especially me, I have loads of work that I may have to do this upcoming school year. So thanks again, please keep this list up for future reference. :)"
07/7/2009:
"i think that you should have a thing were you type in your school and automatically get your school supply list!!!!"
06/24/2009:
"also use a planner it helps alot belive me"
06/24/2009:
"this list is very helpful. thanks alot. "
06/8/2009:
"this is a really good list. and i have been looking for a reallly long time to know what to buy. i am reallly anxious about going to highschool. i like to write things like this down, its funn :)"
08/25/2008:
"It would be nice if each teacher could post their class supply list on the website, and after the student gets his or her schedule you can look up that teacher's supply list and have the supplies ready for the first day of school. It would make things alot easier on parents, especially financially."
08/25/2008:
" I think that this is a great useful list, please keep this on the internet, i really do like this thanks ."
08/19/2008:
"i found this to be an uplifting website. The lists of supplys gave me ideas of things when to teacher askes for certain items needs for an assignment that is a craft project. i usually get one sent home right before payday and don't have what he needs. "
07/31/2008:
"On behalf of myself and my parents, I would like to thank you for this helpful list of basic school supplies. However, that's not why I'm writing. If you could please change the listed 'Kleenex' to 'facial tissue,' you would actually be doing something good for the environment. Kimberly Clark, the company that manufactures Kleenex is currently clear cutting large parts of the Boreal forest for their tissues. By changing the wording on school supply lists, or even suggesting the use of brands containing post-consumer recycled products, your website can help prevent the deforestation. It may seem silly, but please consider it. For more information, you can visit Greenpeace.com/usa. This is not a form letter, it's just a high school student who likes your website. Thank you. "
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