BACK-TO-SCHOOL GUIDE
What Back-to-School Supplies Really Cost in Grapevine-Colleyville ISD
I priced this year's Grapevine-Colleyville ISD supply list at five different stores, so you can see exactly where your money goes before you shop.
Every July, my neighbors start asking the same question: where should I actually buy school supplies this year? The Grapevine-Colleyville ISD (GCISD) list looks about the same on paper every August, but the price tag changes a lot depending on which store you walk into.
So I did what I do with home prices: I pulled the comps. I priced every item on the GCISD elementary supply list at Walmart, Target, Staples, Office Depot, and Amazon, using ads and listed prices gathered the week of July 27, 2026. Below you'll find which store wins item by item, what a full grade-level list actually costs, and direct links to your child's exact supply list and the district calendar.
This is independent local information, not official GCISD pricing. Store ads rotate weekly through September, so treat the numbers as a planning guide and confirm at the register.
Before You Shop
- GCISD's first day of the 2026-2027 school year is Wednesday, August 12, 2026.
- Texas' sales-tax-free weekend falls on August 7-9, 2026, right before the bell rings.
- Elementary, middle, and high school supply lists are posted separately on GCISD's Back to School Resources page.
- Download the district's official 2026-2027 calendar, or grab my free printable version for the fridge.
What's on the GCISD Supply List This Year?
GCISD posts three separate supply lists each summer, and none of them apply to iUniversity Prep students.
The elementary list is grade-specific, from kindergarten through 5th grade. Younger grades lean on crayons, watercolor sets, and folders. By 3rd grade, the list shifts toward binders, dividers, and filler paper as students take on more independent organizing.
The middle school list is one shared list across all GCISD middle school campuses: a 2-inch binder, poly dividers, earbuds, a pencil pouch, notebook paper, highlighters, index cards, glue sticks, pencils, colored pencils, tape, black pens, and four composition books. Individual campuses or teachers may ask for a few extras.
The high school list isn't one document. Teachers hand out subject-specific lists during the first week of class. The general items every high schooler needs on hand are notebook or graph paper, highlighters, pencils, pens in red, black, and blue, composition books, and tissues.
Find the exact list for your student here:
Which Store Has the Lowest Prices on GCISD School Supplies?
Item-by-item comparison, July 2026 pricing
Walmart had the lowest listed price on every single item on the GCISD elementary supply list, based on ads and listed prices from the week of July 27, 2026.
| Supply Item | Walmart | Target | Staples | Office Depot | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #2 pencils, 24-ct box (Ticonderoga) | $3.97 | $4.29 | $5.99 | $5.49 | $6.99 |
| Plastic pencil/school box | $1.97 | $2.49 | $3.49 | $3.29 | $3.99 |
| Eraser (Magic Rub, each) | $0.59 | $0.69 | $0.79 | $0.79 | $0.99 |
| Crayola crayons, 24-ct | $0.90 | $1.00 | $1.49 | $1.39 | $1.79 |
| Crayola washable markers, thick, 8-ct | $3.97 | $4.29 | $5.49 | $5.29 | $5.99 |
| Crayola washable markers, thin, 8/10-ct | $3.97 | $4.29 | $5.49 | $5.29 | $5.99 |
| Kids scissors, blunt tip | $1.58 | $1.99 | $2.99 | $2.79 | $3.49 |
| Poly folder w/ brads (each color) | $1.22 | $1.29 | $1.49 | $1.49 | $1.79 |
| Elmer's glue sticks, 6-pack (0.77 oz) | $3.47 | $3.99 | $4.49 | $4.29 | $5.49 |
| Elmer's school glue, 4 oz | $0.97 | $1.09 | $1.49 | $1.39 | $1.99 |
| Kleenex, 100-ct box | $1.98 | $2.19 | $2.49 | $2.49 | $2.99 |
| Composition notebook, wide ruled, 100-ct | $0.97 | $1.09 | $1.49 | $1.39 | $1.99 |
| Expo markers, fine tip black, 4-pack | $5.97 | $6.49 | $7.99 | $7.49 | $8.99 |
| Kids headphones | $8.99 | $9.99 | $12.99 | $12.99 | $10.99 |
| Watercolor set, 8-color (Prang) | $8.87 | $9.99 | $11.99 | $11.99 | $10.99 |
| Crayola colored pencils, 12-ct, pre-sharpened | $1.97 | $2.19 | $2.99 | $2.79 | $3.49 |
| 1" view binder, white | $5.82 | $6.49 | $6.99 | $6.99 | $7.49 |
| 12" ruler (cm & in) | $0.97 | $1.09 | $1.49 | $1.39 | $1.99 |
| Pencil sharpener w/ receptacle | $2.97 | $3.49 | $3.99 | $3.99 | $4.49 |
| 5-tab/10-pocket poly dividers | $3.97 | $4.29 | $4.99 | $4.99 | $5.49 |
| Nylon pencil pouch, clear top w/ grommet | $2.99 | $3.49 | $3.99 | $3.99 | $4.49 |
| Filler paper, wide ruled, 100-ct | $1.47 | $1.69 | $1.99 | $1.99 | $2.49 |
| Sharpie fine point, black, 2-pack | $3.47 | $3.99 | $4.49 | $4.29 | $4.99 |
| Highlighters, fluorescent yellow, 4-pack | $2.97 | $3.49 | $3.99 | $3.99 | $4.49 |
| One of each item | $75.99 | $85.37 | $105.06 | $102.26 | $113.86 |
Prices are estimated per-unit prices gathered the week of July 27, 2026, based on publicly listed retailer pricing for the closest matching product. Actual shelf prices vary by store location, promotions, and stock. Treat these as planning estimates, not quotes.
Buying one of each item on this list costs about $76 at Walmart, compared with $105 at Staples and $114 on Amazon. That's roughly $30 to $38 more for the exact same list, just for choosing a different store. Target lands closest to Walmart, at about $85.
What Does a Full Grade-Level List Actually Cost?
Real totals for two GCISD grades, not just one of everything
The "one of each" total above is a helpful starting point, but GCISD's actual list asks for specific quantities: two boxes of Kleenex, four glue sticks, four composition books. I ran the real numbers for two grades so you can see what a completed list costs, not just a sample basket.
| Grade | Walmart | Target | Staples | Office Depot | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten (full list) | $76.61 | $84.78 | $107.04 | $102.84 | $117.14 |
| 3rd grade (full list) | $66.88 | $74.34 | $92.33 | $89.43 | $103.73 |
Kindergarten's list runs higher than 3rd grade's, mostly because of the watercolor set, extra folders, and four packs of markers required for the youngest students. Either way, the pattern holds: shopping the same list at Staples instead of Walmart costs roughly 38 to 40 percent more, and Amazon runs highest of all once you're buying individual units instead of multipacks.
Where Do I Find My Child's Exact GCISD Supply List and Calendar?
Direct links, straight from the district
- GCISD Elementary School Supply List (2026-2027)
- GCISD Middle School Supply List (2026-2027)
- GCISD High School Supply List (2026-2027)
- GCISD Back to School Resources page (registration, bus info, school hours, and more)
- GCISD 2026-2027 Instructional Calendar
- Free printable GCISD calendar, my annual download for the fridge
When Does the 2026-2027 School Year Start?
Key dates to put on the calendar now
GCISD's first day of school is Wednesday, August 12, 2026. Dates can be amended by the board, so confirm on the district's Back to School Resources page before you plan around it.
Texas' sales-tax holiday runs August 7 to 9, 2026, the weekend right before the bell rings. Clothing, footwear, school supplies, and backpacks priced under $100 per item are exempt from both state and local sales tax, whether you shop online or in person.
That timing works in your favor. Save the tax-free weekend for the higher-ticket items, like the backpack, headphones, and binder, since those are the ones where skipping sales tax actually saves real money. The small consumables, like folders, glue, and notebooks, are already inexpensive enough at Walmart that the tax savings barely move the needle.
How Do You Keep the List From Costing More Than It Should?
A few practical habits
- Check the closet first. Composition books and folders are so inexpensive that most households just buy fresh, but headphones, scissors, and a pencil box from last year often still work fine.
- Split the trip. Buy the everyday consumables at Walmart, then save the tax-free weekend for the backpack and headphones.
- Buy paper goods a little deep, once. Composition books and folders don't expire, and this year's price on them isn't guaranteed to hold next year.
- Skip single-item online orders for the small stuff. Buying this list one item at a time online runs meaningfully higher than a single store trip, based on the numbers above.
- Confirm your child's exact grade-level list before you shop. Requirements shift by a few items from one grade to the next, so don't shop from memory.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which store has the lowest prices on GCISD school supplies in 2026?
Walmart has the lowest price on every item on the GCISD elementary supply list, based on ads collected the week of July 27, 2026. Target is a close second. Staples, Office Depot, and Amazon all run noticeably higher, especially for single-unit online orders.
When does the 2026-2027 school year start in GCISD?
GCISD's first day of school is Wednesday, August 12, 2026. Confirm the date on the district's Back to School Resources page, since school board decisions can amend published calendars.
Where do I find my child's specific GCISD supply list?
GCISD posts separate lists for elementary, middle, and high school on its Back to School Resources page. Elementary lists are grade-specific, middle school shares one list across all campuses, and high school teachers hand out subject-specific lists during the first week of class.
Is there a sales tax holiday for school supplies in Texas?
Yes. Texas' 2026 sales-tax holiday runs August 7 to 9. Clothing, footwear, school supplies, and backpacks priced under $100 per item are exempt from state and local sales tax, both online and in-store.
Does the GCISD supply list apply to iUniversity Prep students?
No. GCISD's elementary, middle, and high school supply lists all specifically note that they do not apply to iUniversity Prep students.
The August calendar shapes more than a shopping list. It shapes when moving trucks show up, when showings slow down, and how close a closing needs to land to the first day of school. If you're weighing a move in or around Grapevine-Colleyville this year, I'm glad to walk through how the calendar affects your timeline. Grab my free printable GCISD calendar for the fridge, and reach out whenever you're ready to talk.
Ready to talk timing, pricing, or your next move in Grapevine? Get in touch with me here.
By Amy Beyer, Realtor | Grapevine, TX | AmyBeyerRealtor.com | Powered by Real Broker, LLC | TREC #0500623 since 2002
This post is independent local information prepared by Amy Beyer Realtor and is not produced, reviewed, or endorsed by Grapevine-Colleyville ISD. Pricing reflects publicly advertised retail prices gathered the week of July 27, 2026, and is subject to change.
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