The school nearest to me opens August 22. It seems to get a little earlier every year. They do get out in early June, though. I don't remember "back to school shopping" being as big a deal as it is now. I'd bring home what I had left at the end of the school year, and then over the summer my mom and I would look through it and replace whatever was low. I don't remember ever having to provide a box of tissues, let alone things like paper towels or Clorox wipes.