Back To School Essentials Checklist for Students in 2021

Is your little one gearing up for a new school year? That means it’s time to stock up on all the back to school essentials! From basic writing utensils to backpacks and binders, you’ll find it all on our comprehensive checklist. We know back to school shopping can be hectic, so we’ve made it easy for parents to find all the important items without stepping foot into a busy retail store. In addition, the low costs will keep your family well-within budget this year. You won’t want to miss out on these awesome deals! 

Browse our favorite back to school essentials for the 2021-2022 school year. Equally important, discover the best deals on back to school items that you don’t always think of while shopping.

What are back to school essentials?

After a year of virtual learning, your little one is more than ready to get back into the swing of things. The 2021-2022 school year is a fresh start for most learners. Thus, making it even more important to have the right back to school essentials upon their return. Whether entering preschool, middle school, or taking their first steps into college, there are must-have items to bring along. Back to school essentials include a list of basic school supplies that will keep every student equipped throughout the school year. 

First, every aspiring student needs a proper backpack or bag to carry their school supplies. For preschoolers, we recommend the Vaschy Backpack, which combines convenience and imaginative designs into one compact bag. Rated 5 stars on Amazon, this backpack option for boys and girls offers a variety of patterns and colors. From flamingos to dinosaurs, your 4 to 6 year old will get great use out of this purchase. 

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At just $26.89, your student can enjoy the two side pockets for water or snacks and convenient zipper tags for easy access. For kids in elementary or middle school, you can’t go wrong with the JanSport SuperBreak Backpack available in pink, blue, and white. 

Is simple more your style? Try out the AmazonBasics Classic School Backpack for just $12. This classic backpack is lightweight and won’t break the bank for school shopping.

In addition to the perfect pack, kids need a lunch box that is both durable and large enough for food containers. We encourage all parents to try out the FlowFly Kids Lunch Box for their little one. This awesome find includes double decker compartments making it convenient to store various food items and ice packs.

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At $14.06, this water-resistant, high quality lunch box will keep food cold for up to 9 hours with enough ice packs inserted. If your kid is off to high school this year, an insulated lunch bag is necessary. Then again, there is always your basic brown lunch bag. For a more sophisticated look, the Adidas Excel Lunch Bag is a great option. Surely it looks more like a sporty gym bag compared to a typical lunch box. 

What should I get for school 2021?

School 2021 is all about getting back to basics. It’s fair to say most kids will enjoy the feeling of being surrounded by friends, fresh pencils, and a welcoming learning environment this year. In particular, students can get excited for some new school supplies.

To make your shopping experience easy, try out the J World Kids’ Rolling Backpack and Lunch Bag set. Retailing for a price as low as $27.26, your learner will walk confidently into school with this stylish find. With a comfort-grip handle, front pouch, and internal organizer, your elementary schooler will be more than prepared for what the year may bring. Especially if they have lots of books to carry.

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The best part about this buy is you can check off two back to school essentials in one purchase. Another item to buy is a 2021 planner. Certainly, all high schoolers will benefit from this one, and even college students too. A popular choice among students is the Lemome Weekly and Monthly Planner. Its simple design and durable cover are a bonus for even the most unorganized learners. Not to mention, your student will have no problem achieving their goals with this planner in hand. 

In 2021, it’s still important to keep sanitation in mind as students embrace a new school year. Consider adding a pack of hand sanitizers to your student’s backpack. For example, Purell Hand Sanitizing Wipes allow for easy cleaning and a more gentle touch on the hands. At $7.50, this is one back to school essential that is a must-have.  

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What should I bring to school with me?

Whether your pupil is starting school for the first time or adjusting back to a normal school routine, they should have these back to school essentials with them.

Crayola Crayons are a go-to for young preschoolers and kindergarteners. With the assortment of colors, your little one will find a creative outlet through drawing. We recommend buying the bulk pack so you have enough crayons to last throughout the year. Don’t be surprised if a few go missing — having backup is always a good idea with young learners. 

Another item to bring to school is a large pencil case to stow all your writing utensils. For $9.99, the Vnieetsr big capacity pencil case offers a unique design with three storage compartments. 

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Available in five color options, your student will love this case and get great use out of it throughout the 2021-2022 school year. You can even fit a pack of sticky notes or a small pencil sharpener inside. The Mr. Pen Emoji Pencil Sharpeners are a kid-favorite. Buy a pack today on Amazon for just $5.99. 

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To keep your student extra organized this year, we encourage all parents to invest in an assortment of colored labels. These labels work great at distinguishing folders, pages, or subjects throughout the school year. Dot stickers will also make excellent organizers for basic school materials and reminders.

Another important item to bring to school is an insulated water bottle. Hydration is key as your little one embarks on a busy school day so you’ll want this back to school essential nearby. Once the day gets going, your little one will be glad to have their own water bottle within arms reach, especially after gym class. 

For Disney enthusiasts, the Simple Modern Kids Water Bottle is the one to buy. From Frozen, Aladdin, and classic Mickey ears, this 14 to 22 oz. water bottle will fit perfectly in your student’s backpack or gym bag when necessary. The individualized designs will make it easy for your youngster to distinguish their water bottle as well.  

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What are the basic school supplies?

Are you getting ready to go back to school but feeling unprepared? These are the basic school supplies every student needs. We’ve compiled this checklist to help parents navigate this tiresome shopping task without stress. With ease, you’ll find everything you need online and take advantage of the awesome back to school discounts. Moreover, you have complete access to any item you need with the help of price.com.

Here are the basic school supplies to add to your shopping cart for the 2021-2022 school year:

• Pencils
• Pens
• Erasers
• Highlighters
• Index cards
• Binders
• Folders
• Glue stick
• Calculator
• Notebooks

And the list doesn’t stop there. Some of our favorite back to school essentials are the ones you don’t always think of. In reality, a number of items could count as back to school essentials depending on your student. Add a Drawstring Gym Bag to your checklist for physical education class and extracurricular sports. Don’t forget a fresh pair of sneakers while you’re under the shopping bug as well. You can always find KUBUA Kids Sneakers for boys and girls at an affordable price on Amazon. 

For $25.49-$37.99, you’ll see a variety of sizes and colors available for purchase. Act fast though! These fashionable sneakers will run out of stock as it gets closer to the first day of school. However, if you do miss out, there are plenty of name brand options to browse from.

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Once you get the classroom basics and extracurricular gear situated, your little one will be more than ready for a year of learning! After all, it’s all about having the right support for a conducive learning environment. Make sure your student enter the 2021-2022 school year feeling prepared with all the back to school essentials in their bag. 

Price.com has everything you need and more for last minute back to school essentials

Why shop with us? We help you maximize your savings and earn cash back from thousands of retailers. Get up to 40% cash back from specific retailers. It’s even easier now to save money with price drops and comparison shopping features. Head over to Price.com to begin shopping for back to school essentials for 2021.

About Price.com

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The Company’s core team consists of industry-leading data scientists and data engineers. Price.com founder RJ Jain sold his previous company to Google where today it powers Google Test Labs. Previously, he held senior engineering roles at Sidecar (acquired by GM) and Zynga, and served as an in-house Entrepreneur in Residence at Foundation Capital.