Schools
The Cost of Equipping Your Kids for Back to School
Supplies differ at each school but random sampling of a local back-to-school list showed the cost to be far below a national average.
The back-to-school aisles at the Gravois Bluffs were crowded Tuesday as parents and their children cruised for school supplies for the new school year. School starts Aug. 15-16 in local districts.
The excited pleas for things like a Hello Kitty notebook or a Super Mario soft lunchbox were overwhelmed by some of the chatter from Moms who were frustrated at the length of some of the school supply lists. A large display near the back to school area contained the supply lists from every nearby school.
Patch picked a random school supplies list for First Graders for in the Rockwood School District.
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The National Retail Federation’s recent survey on back to school spending showed the average annual back to school supply tab nationwide is $95.44.
The Stanton Elementary First Grade bottom line was considerable less, coming in at $14.79 for the 10 items on the school supply list. Here's the breakdown:
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- Two boxes of sharpened pencils - $1.12 for a 20-count box
- Two large boxes of tissues 66 cents for a generic brand.
- One pocket folder (bottom pockets only) - 50 cents
- Two large school glue - 50 cents each
- One 70-page spiral comp notebook (wide rule) - 50 cents
- One pencil box (8x5, sturdy) - 97 cents
- Two boxes of 24ct crayons - 50 cents
- Two boxes of colored pencils - 97 cents
- one pair of scissors - $2.97
- Two binders (1" w/clear sleeves) $2.47 each for the binders; $2.97 for the sleeves.
The total comes to $17.26. Add on a new backpack and/or lunchbox and the cost will boost by a bit. And there also are new school clothes to account for.
It should be noted that erasers aren't on the list nor is a ruler which were staples on the student supply list in past years.
Of course if you can get in and out of a Walmart and spend only $20 while ignoring the vast array of impulse items, you deserve an A for the shopping trip.
We welcome comments on the annual school supply safari and wonder if you have any tips for outfitting your students for their first day of school.
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