Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!
Back to school ESSENTIALS from a rising senior in high school
41
items These supplies are a must have for anyone going into any grade! I love school supplies and I think my input will help a lot when you plan to shop for your upcoming school year :)
Sections
3
K-5th grade essentials
6-8th grade (middle school) essentials
9-12th (High school) essentials
K-5th grade essentials
the classic set with all the essential colors kids use daily for classwork and projects. So perfect for crafts and school projects. They are easy to use and great for school.
24 Count Classic Crayons
perfect for detailed coloring, maps, and neat assignments. Teachers always recommend getting these, so they are a must have for school!
Colored Pencils
bold colors kids love, and the washable factor has saved clothes, desks, and even walls more than once. They are so fun to use and so many colors are involved!
Colored Art Markers
I love these because kids can see exactly where they’re gluing, and they dry clear without the sticky mess of liquid glue. They aren’t too sticky where they would get messy but they are perfect for sticking papers into notebooks and crafts
Elmer's Disappearing Purple School Glue Sticks, Washable, 2 Count
they actually cut paper without frustration, but still safe for younger kids. I’ve noticed they outlast other brands too. The eraser cap is amazing to rub off mistakes so it’s multipurpose as well!
Kids Blunt-tip and Pointed-tip Scissors (Ages 4+)
I used to think any notebook would do, but these are the only ones that actually hold up. Spirals lose pages and bend, but composition notebooks stay intact even after being stuffed in a backpack all year. The wide-ruled lines are also great for earl...
Composition Notebooks - Mead
total game-changer compared to paper folders. Paper ones tear within weeks, but plastic lasts the entire school year (sometimes two). They come in bright colors so it’s easy to organize by subject, and teachers often assign specific colors for each c...
Blue Summit 6 Pack Multicolor Plastic Folders
I cannot stress this enough: teachers LOVE when parents send these in. Kids use them for personal whiteboards during lessons, and having a reliable pack on hand saves so much classroom frustration. Plus, the fine tip makes their writing neater—no gia...
Dry Erase Markers | Expo
it seems so simple, but without this, pencils and crayons end up at the bottom of the backpack in a mess. These little boxes keep everything in one place, and they’re surprisingly tough—I’ve had one last for multiple school years. Bonus: kids love de...
Sterilite Pencil Box with Splash Tint Lid
this is one of those supplies parents often overlook until it’s suddenly on the art project list. The 8-count is exactly what teachers want, and it lasts a long time. My favorite part? The colors blend beautifully, and kids light up when they get to ...
Watercolor Paints & Paint Sets, Art Supplie
probably the most forgotten item, but one of the most important. Almost every class has iPad or computer time now, and good headphones make a huge difference. The volume-limited feature protects their hearing, and the smaller size means they actually...
BuddyPhones Volume-Safe Kids Headphones: KidSafe KidProof ...
Many classrooms use tablets or computers, and personal headphones help with focus and hygiene. A case keeps them from breaking in backpacks.
Headphones With Case
Slip important papers or weekly schedules inside and they’ll last all year without tearing.
Sheet Protectors
Saves classroom time and avoids the line at the big sharpener.
The Sharpener
They don’t fall out like paper ones, so kids can easily keep track of reading spots.
Magnetic Bookmarks
Doubles as a writing surface and a mini whiteboard for practice, making transitions smoother in class.
Small Whiteboard
teacher-preferred, don’t break easily. Also because they are pre sharped they are much easier to use. Getting a good grip on these is so important because they are typically used for standardized testing later on!
Ticonderoga Wood-Cased Pencils, Pre-Sharpened, 2 HB, Yellow, 30
6-8th grade (middle school) essentials
middle school backpacks take a beating. Between heavy books, Chromebooks, and gym clothes, you need one that won’t fall apart by October. A padded laptop sleeve and comfy straps are game-changers for long days of hauling.
Laptop Backpacks | Backpacks with Laptop Sleeve
middle schoolers feel cooler with mechanical pencils (no noisy sharpeners anymore 🙌). Plus, refills last forever, so you’re not constantly buying more packs.
Mechanical Pencils
suddenly, they’re juggling multiple classes and thick textbooks. Highlighters make note-taking feel organized, and color-coding actually makes studying less of a drag. It’s also so much easier to absorb information to color coding
Highlighter Pens & Markers
pens are officially a “middle school thing.” Smooth ink makes homework and essays feel cleaner, and teachers usually require them for grading. Trust me, it’s worth having a backup stash.
Gel Pens
wide-ruled is out, college-ruled is in. The tighter lines fit all the extra notes middle school brings. Pro tip: grab different colors so they can instantly tell which notebook goes with which class.
Spiral Notebooks | Five Star
the holy grail of middle school organization. Everything—notes, worksheets, dividers—lives in here. A sturdy one can survive locker slams, bus rides, and being stuffed with papers.
Three Ring Binders in Binders & Accessories(1000+)
not just tabs. The pocket part is the secret weapon. Loose worksheets, permission slips, and random handouts don’t get lost at the bottom of the backpack—they stay put in the right subject section.
Pocket Dividers For Binders
a pencil box won’t cut it anymore. A zippered pouch clips into their binder so they actually bring it to every class. No more “borrowing” from friends every period.
ZIPIT Pencil Cases & Pouches
middle school math levels up fast, and a basic calculator just won’t do. These models are teacher favorites and will carry them all the way through algebra and geometry.
Texas Instruments TI-84 Plus Graphics Calculator
flashcards are still undefeated when it comes to memorization. Middle schoolers roll their eyes at first… until they realize they can ace vocab quizzes with them.
Index Cards
lockers are serious business in middle school. Having their own lock (and practicing the combo at home!) saves a ton of stress. Bonus: a second one for gym class avoids last-minute panic.
Waxhaw Ace Hardware
kids are running from class to class, and hydration keeps their energy up. A sturdy, leak-proof bottle means no spills in the backpack, and they don’t waste time standing in water fountain lines between bells.
Owala
9-12th (High school) essentials
no one’s sharpening pencils in high school. These are refillable, reliable, and make writing way smoother. Plus, kids actually want to use them, which means fewer “lost pencil” complaints.
Mechanical Pencils
essays, labs, and classwork look cleaner with gel pens. They glide across the page and help keep handwriting neat during fast note-taking.
Pilot G2 Retractable Gel Pens Extra Fine 0.5
color-coding is everything in high school. Students use them to organize notes, review study guides, and make key info pop for tests.
Sharpie Tank Highlighters, Pastel, Chisel Tip
must-have for long lectures and fast-paced classes. College-ruled lines let them fit more notes per page without running out of space.
Spiral Notebooks | Five Star
basically their academic lifeline. Keeps handouts, notes, and assignments in one spot—no more crumpled papers shoved in backpacks.
3 Ring : Binders
these are clutch for managing multiple classes. Pockets catch loose worksheets and syllabi, while tabs keep everything separated by subject.
Pocket Dividers For Binders
sleek and portable. It keeps pencils, pens, and calculators together so they’re not scrambling for supplies during class.
Pencil Pouch
the holy grail of high school math and science. It’s required for most advanced classes and standardized tests, and it’ll last through college too.
TI-84 Plus CE Color Graphing Calculator
yes, flashcards still work. They’re perfect for vocab quizzes, formulas, and prepping for AP exams. Old-school, but effective.
Index Cards
lifesavers for quick reminders, annotating textbooks, and marking important pages without damaging books.
Sticky Notes
high school schedules get hectic with homework, tests, and activities. A planner teaches time management and helps keep deadlines straight.
Guided Notebooks + Planners
staying hydrated is underrated, but it makes a difference in focus and energy during those long school days.
Owala