Back-to-school season is in full swing in Tarrant County.
Students at a back-to-school event at the Southside Community Center on Friday reflected on their favorite parts of the summer while looking ahead to the 2026-27 school year after gathering school supplies. Some went to the pool, spent time with family and played at the park. Others kept up with their reading, digging into books about zombies, dinosaurs and Easter.
Melina Boules, an incoming third grader in Northwest ISD, said one of the books she read this summer involved Easter eggs, jelly donuts and angry insects.
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“I really like this book about Easter. It was the day before Easter, and a bunch of kids were looking for Easter eggs that (have) notes and dimes,” she said. “I liked that book a lot, but I didn’t finish reading it. And I liked the part when they got jelly donuts, and the bees were stinging them.”
Southside Community Center gives away school supplies ahead of the 2026-2027 school year on Friday, July 31, 2026 in Fort Worth. Abigail Dollins Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Some students said they were eager to head back to the classroom and learn, while others looked forward to seeing their friends and doing extracurricular activities.
“I want to go back to school because when I did my orientation, the sixth-grade flag football coach said he wanted me on his team, so I’m pretty excited about that,” said Grayson Mangum, who will attend sixth grade in Lake Worth ISD.
“I’m excited about seeing my friends. I’m excited about also trying out for band. I’m gonna try out for the drums, so hope that can get me somewhere,” he added.
Genesis Hair Allen-Wade, who’s going to be a kindergartener in Fort Worth ISD, said she’s happy to go to school because she’s eager to learn. When asked what she’s excited to learn about specifically, she named an essential topic.
“ABC’s,” she said.
The Wallace family picks up school supplies during a giveaway as the 2026-2027 school year approaches on Friday, July 31, 2026 at the Southside Community Center in Fort Worth. Abigail Dollins Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Here are other back-to-school events happening in Tarrant County:
Northside back-to-school bash
When: Saturday, Aug. 8 from 12-3 p.m.Where: Northside Community Center (1100 NW 18th St., Fort Worth)
Back-to-school events hosted by the city of Fort Worth
When: Saturday, Aug. 8 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.Where: Andrew Doc Session Community Center (201 S. Sylvania Ave., Fort Worth)
When: Sunday, Aug. 9 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.Where: Handley Meadowbrook Community Center (6201 Beaty St., Fort Worth)
When: Saturday, Aug. 8 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.Where: Worth Heights Community Center (3551 New York Ave., Fort Worth)
When: Saturday, Aug. 8 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.Where: Eugene McCray Community Center (4932 Wilbarger St., Fort Worth)
When: Saturday, Aug. 8 from 6-10 p.m.Where: Marine Park Pool (303 NW 20th St., Fort Worth)
When: Saturday, Aug. 8 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.Where: Como Community Center (4660 Horne St., Fort Worth)
When: Saturday, Aug. 8 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.Where: Victoria Forest Community Center (3427 Hemphill St., Fort Worth)
When: Saturday, Aug. 29 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.Where: North Tri-Ethnic Community Center (2950 Roosevelt Ave., Fort Worth)
Tarrant County back-to-school roundup
When: Friday, Aug. 7 from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Entry for families without approved pre-registration begins at noon.Where: Tarrant County College, South Campus (5301 Campus Drive, Fort Worth)
Parents can also find other events and back-to-school resources on the Parent Pass app.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Lina Ruiz covers early childhood education in Tarrant County and North Texas for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. A University of Florida graduate, she previously wrote about local government in South Florida for TCPalm and Treasure Coast Newspapers.