Nearly 19,000 Columbia students enrolled on first day of school
Keriana Gamboa
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Nearly 19,000 Columbia Public School students made their way back into the classrooms for the first day of the 2025-26 school year Tuesday morning.
Columbia Public Schools Superintendent Jeff Klein told he’s excited and that this is a great opportunity as he begin this new position.
“Our focus this year is on making CPS the best place to work and the best place to learn,” Klein said. “So one of the first things we want to continue and build on is the culture and climate that’s been developed here.”
Smithton Middle School student Ellie Matthews shared with ABC 17 News how her first day back went.
“It was really good. I like all my teachers, and they were saying all the rules to like the classes and everything,” Matthew said.
Columbia Public Schools also debuted its new bus service, DS Bus Lines after it signed a three-year contract in February. DS Bus Lines brings a brand new fleet of buses that have safety features like GPS tracking for parents to track the bus in real time, and cameras inside and outside the buses.
“We’ve had a really good start to the year, and we anticipate that it’s going to be that way,” Klein said. “In September, we got some new technology that’s going to come on board. That’s going to be great for parents and help for us as well.”
Smithton Administrative Assistant Alex Schroeder said the first day went smoothly.
“Brand new buses, kids are excited. Bus drivers have some new security features in there for them. Make buses more secure and safe for kids as they’re going home,” Schroeder said. “Everything ran smoothly this morning. You know, a few hiccups, first day, but other than that, it’s been a great first day.”
The GPS tracking will be available to families in September via mobile app once routing for buses is finished. According to CPS, students can opt in to use the bus through Sept. 3 through the late opt-in process. Those who opt in late will get transportation sorted out as soon as possible.
There will be around 8,000 students taking the bus for the 2025-26 school year. As the new school year begins, students and parents are reminded of the new statewide no-phone policy that bans cellphones in every district in the state.
Michelle James described how her son is adapting to the new changes.
“He knows that he shouldn’t take it out. We do keep it on this person just in case there’s emergencies. But he’s aware of the law and the rule,” James said.
Multiple parents from Smithton shared with ABC 17 News how the first day of school drop-off and pick-up went.
Ellie Matthew’s mother, Aileigh Coles, said pickup became hectic.
“Drop off, I feel like was a little smoother… pickup, I feel like a little chaotic. So I went ahead and just got out and went to pick up Ellie,” Ellie’s mother, Aileigh Coles said.
“We were here several times last year. And it’s very typical lines waiting to pick up the students and those to ride the bus or on that side,” Mike Holman said.
CPS is the fourth-largest school district in the state. CPS reported an increase of 74 students in this year’s enrollment. The district expects new registrations to continue in the coming days.