Families with children at Kilgour Elementary, Clark Montessori, Withrow University High School, or Hyde Park School can pick up free backpacks, school supplies, and health services at the annual CPS Back-to-School Fest on Saturday, August 8, at Washington Park in Over-the-Rhine.
The event runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Supplies are first-come, first-served.
Cincinnati Public Schools announced the fest on its website July 13, calling it a one-stop resource for families heading into the 2026-27 school year. The University of Cincinnati's CPS Strong Initiative is the title sponsor, and more than 75 community partners will staff booths and stations, according to the district.
Washington Park is about a 15-minute drive from Hyde Park and Oakley.
Free supplies and health services
Free backpacks, school supplies, and food top the list. Health providers will offer physicals, vaccinations, and dental screenings on-site, so students can knock out requirements before the first day of class. Families can also meet school leaders and connect with CPS departments.
Kids can tour a Metro bus, try a yellow bus safety experience, and hit up face painting, games, and a selfie station.
Enrollment window still open
CPS is running a new on-the-spot enrollment program for the 2026-27 school year through Friday, September 4. Families who bring a parent or guardian photo ID, the child's birth certificate, and proof of residency to the CPS Education Center at 2651 Burnet Ave. can complete enrollment in a single visit. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m.
Multilingual families can also enroll at a CPS Welcome Center at Withrow University High School. Translation services are available. Questions go to the CPS Customer Care Center at 513-363-0123.
Open house dates for east-side schools
Several east-side CPS schools have set open house dates:
- Kilgour School: Monday, August 17, 4:30–6:30 p.m.
- Clark Montessori High School: Thursday, August 13, 4–6 p.m.
- Walnut Hills High School: Monday, August 17, 5–8 p.m.
Open house dates for Hyde Park School and Withrow High School had not been announced as of the district's July 2 schedule.
At Walnut Hills, families can walk their students' schedules, meet teachers, pick up new computers, and claim lockers, according to the school's student newspaper.
The Back-to-School Fest's other sponsors include Cinfed Credit Union, Humana, Anthem, Best Point, and Payton's Lemonade Stand. In-kind donors include the Freestore Foodbank, the Joe Burrow Foundation, Kroger, and Scholastic.
