Printable First Day of School Signs: Free PDF Downloads

There’s nothing quite like the first-day buzz—backpacks packed, supplies ready, and kids excited for a brand-new school year. One of the best ways to preserve that moment is with first day of school photos, and a printable sign your child can hold makes those pictures extra special.

I created a complete set of free printable first day of school signs in two styles: a clean black-and-white version and a colorful option. Each sign is available as a PDF you can download and print.

These signs are an easy, charming way to add a little extra flair to your child’s first-day photos.

If you need more back-to-school prep, consider using a printable checklist to make mornings easier.

How to Use These Free Printable First Day Signs

The set includes signs for every grade level—from preschool and pre-K through elementary, middle, and high school. There are also homeschool and higher-education variations for parents returning to school or college students.

Each template is undated so you can reuse them year after year. Matching last-day signs are also available in the same styles if you’d like to document the whole school year.

Click the image of the PDF you want to download it.
Print at home for a quick option or send the PDF to a local print shop for a higher-quality print.
Have your child hold the sign on their first day, take photos, and share the memories with family or on social media.

These printables are for personal use only; feel free to print as many copies as your family needs.

First Day Signs: Preschool to Elementary

Below are printable signs covering preschool through elementary grades. Each grade typically has both black-and-white and colorful versions so you can pick the look you prefer.

Click any image or title to download the corresponding PDF.

First Day of School Sign (Black & White)

First Day of School Sign (Colorful)

First Day of Preschool Sign (Black & White)

First Day of Preschool Sign (Colorful)

First Day of Pre-K Sign (Black & White)

First Day of Pre-K Sign (Colorful)

First Day of Kindergarten Sign (Black & White)

First Day of Kindergarten Sign (Colorful)

First Day of First Grade (1st Grade)

First Day of First Grade (Colorful)

First Day of Second Grade (2nd Grade)

First Day of Second Grade (Colorful)

First Day of School Sign (3rd Grade)

First Day of School Sign (3rd Grade, Colorful)

First Day of School Sign (4th Grade)

First Day of School Sign (4th Grade, Colorful)

First Day of Fifth Grade (5th Grade)

First Day of Fifth Grade (Colorful)

First Day of Sixth Grade (6th Grade)

First Day of Sixth Grade (Colorful)

Middle School to High School Signs (PDF)

For simplicity, the middle-to-high school selections begin with seventh grade. Each grade typically has both black-and-white and colorful options so you can pick the style you like.

First Day of Seventh Grade (7th Grade)

First Day of Seventh Grade (Colorful)

First Day of Eighth Grade (8th Grade)

First Day of Eighth Grade (Colorful)

First Day of Ninth Grade (9th Grade)

First Day of Ninth Grade (Colorful)

First Day of Tenth Grade (10th Grade)

First Day of Tenth Grade (Colorful)

First Day of Eleventh Grade (11th Grade)

First Day of Eleventh Grade (Colorful)

First Day of Twelfth Grade (12th Grade)

First Day of Twelfth Grade (Colorful)

First Day of Freshman Year (B&W)

First Day of Freshman Year (Colorful)

First Day of Sophomore Year (B&W)

First Day of Sophomore Year (Colorful)

First Day of Junior Year (B&W)

First Day of Junior Year (Colorful)

First Day of Senior Year (Black & White)

First Day of Senior Year (Colorful)

Extra First Day Sign Templates

I also designed signs for homeschool, college classes, grad school, and law school—great if a parent is returning to school or if you’d like a higher-education option for a student.

First Day of Homeschool Sign (Black & White)

First Day of Homeschool Sign (Colorful)

First Day of College Classes (Black & White)

First Day of College Classes (Colorful)

First Day of Grad School (Black & White)

First Day of Grad School (Colorful)

First Day of Law School (Black & White)

First Day of Law School (Colorful)

Why Use a First Day of School Sign?

First day signs are a simple, consistent way to document each school year and create a fun tradition. Over the years you’ll end up with a series of photos that show how your child has grown from preschool to senior year.

They’re an easy memory-keeping tool, and these printable signs make it quick to create those yearly photos.

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