Middle School Supplies List
25 Back-to-School Products to Scoop Up for Your Middle Schooler
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Back-to-school season is here — but are you and your young one prepared? Whether your child is learning in a traditional school setting or at home, they'll need a lineup of supplies to give their A-game, from classic must-haves like durable backpacks, notebooks, and pencils to new investments like a laptop or smart notebook.
Ahead, we rounded up the best items for your student to tackle the school year in stride. Keep reading for our top picks, and if you have other students to shop for, be sure to check out our kindergarten, elementary, and high school guides, too.
— Additional reporting by Marisa Petrarca
1 A Curated Supplies Set: Secondary School Essentials Back to School Kit
If you want to get everything your middle schooler needs, opt for the Essential School Supply Kit for Middle School Students (Grade 6-8) ($50). It has all the supplies, like binders, two-pocket folders, loose leaf paper, composition notebooks, spiral notebooks, a pencil bag, pink erasers, pencils, pens, highlighters, and more.
2 A Backpack: JanSport SuperBreak One Backpack
The JanSport SuperBreak One Backpack ($45) is a reliable favorite. It has spacious storage in the main compartment, a front utility pocket with a built-in organizer, and a side water bottle pocket. It comes in a variety of colors as well!
3 Notebooks: AmazonBasics Wide-Ruled Composition Notebooks
Note-taking takes on a new life in middle school. These Notebooks: AmazonBasics Wide-Ruled Composition Notebooks ($12) come in a five-pack, so your kid can separate their school subjects by color.
4 Folders: Amazon Basics Heavy Duty Plastic Folders
Your tween can color-code the WOT Plastic-Folders-with-Pockets ($13) with their notebooks to match subjects. They can keep track of homework and practice problems all in one place.
5 Binders: Samsill Earth’s Choice Biobased Durable Three Ring Binders
If your middle schooler prefers binders, they'll love the Samsill Earth's Choice Biobased Durable Three Ring Binders ($26). They are colorful and bold so they can color code according to their classes.
6 For Keeping Track of School and Activities: 2021-2022 Academic Planner
No school year is complete without a planner. The 2022-2023 Academic Planner ($15, originally $20) has both monthly and weekly pages for easy year-round scheduling. There's enough space for detailed daily planning, assignments, and post-school activities. There's even a notes section for writing important things, appointments, or inspirational quotes.
7 A Pencil Case: EASTHILL Big Capacity Pencil Pen Case
They'll be able to fit everything inside the expandable EASTHILL Big Capacity Pencil Pen Case ($15, originally $20). It holds up to 50 pens or 90 pencils, and can hold small stationery or accessories in the mesh zipped pocket.
8 Lunch Bag: JanSport Lunch Break Insulated Cooler Bag
The JanSport Lunch Break Insulated Cooler Bag ($22) has thermal insulation to help keep food and beverages hot or cold for hours. It comes in a variety of patterns and colors so your little one can choose their favorite.
9 Highlighters: Sharpie Liquid Retractable Highlighters
The Sharpie Liquid Retractable Highlighters ($10) are perfect for active note taking, color-coding, and recognizing keywords. We love its chisel tip, ideal for gliding over notes with ease.
10 Calculator: Texas Instruments 30XIIS Scientific Calculator
Middle schoolers will love the Texas Instruments TI-84 Plus CE Color Graphing Calculator ($10). It's perfect for those who are learning pre-algebra, algebra, geometry and advancing their math skills.
11 Hand Sanitizer: Purell Advanced Hand Sanitizer Refreshing Gel
Keep clean with this three pack of Purell Advanced Hand Sanitizer Refreshing Gel ($8). It's travel-size, so they can always carry one in the bag or jacket pocket.
12 A Laptop-Tablet Hybrid: HP 14" Convertible 2-in-1 Chromebook Laptop with Chrome OS
The HP 14" Convertible 2-in-1 Chromebook Laptop with Chrome OS ($260, regularly $380) is a great first laptop for your middle schooler. The touch-screen transforms from a traditional laptop to a tablet, which is super convenient for when they're on-the-go.
13 Pencils: BIC Xtra-Smooth Mechanical Pencils
Stock up on these BIC Xtra-Smooth Mechanical Pencils ($6, originally $14), especially if your kid has a tendency to lose pencils. You won't have to worry about constantly sharpening pencils since they are mechanical.
14 A "Smart" Notebook: For the Eco-Friendly and Efficient: Rocketbook Smart Reusable Notebook
The Rocketbook Smart Reusable Notebook ($27, originally $34) is a smart notebook, which means it can be digitized so your kid doesn't have to carry around a ton of notebooks and folders. The 32-page lined notebook can be used endlessly by wiping clean with a damp cloth. All you have to do is scan the notes with your phone, and organize it in a dedicated folder in a cloud-based service or note-taking app like Google Drive or Evernote.
15 Best Flashcards: Oxford 31EE Ruled Index Cards:
The Oxford 31EE Ruled Index Cards (10 Packs of 100) ($13) will come in handy for study prep. They can make flash cards for all their tests and quizzes so they can better retain information.
16 Best Reusable Snack Bag: Stasher Reusable Silicone Food Bag
Make their in-class lunch time eco-friendly thanks to these Stasher Reusable Silicone Food Bags ($9, originally $10). It's dishwasher safe and has an air-tight, pinch-loc seal to keep food fresh.
17 Sticky Notes: Mr. Pen- Sticky Notes Set
Whether it's bookmarking, a helpful reminder, or active note-taking, the Mr. Pen- Sticky Notes Set ($8) will come in handy. In fact, the whole family will love using them!
18 Pens: PILOT G2 Premium Refillable & Retractable Rolling Ball Fine Point Gel Pens
The PILOT G2 Premium Refillable & Retractable Rolling Ball Fine Point Gel Pens ($30) have a five-star rating on Amazon, and nearly 20,000 rave reviews. Your middle schooler will absolutely love taking notes and making study guides with these ultra smooth and bold pens.
19 Gym Bag: Adidas Diablo Small Duffel Bag
Make sure your middle schooler is prepared for gym class or after-school activities with a durable bag. The Adidas Diablo Small Duffel Bag ($25) is the perfect size for lockers, with room for an extra pair of clothes, sneakers, water bottles and more.
20 A Backpack Set: BLUBOON Backpack Set
This darling three-piece BLUBOON Backpack Set ($40) comes with a backpack, lunchbox, and pencil case. It comes in several different styles and patterns, so your tween can look their best on their first day.
21 Reusable Water Bottle: Nalgene Wide Mouth Water Bottle
Make sure they hydrated throughout the day with the Nalgene Wide Mouth Water Bottle ($18) that they can keep handy on their desk. With a screw-top lid, you won't have to worry as much about anything getting spilled, and it holds enough water to last them all day.
22 Loose-Leaf Paper: Mead Loose Leaf Paper, 3-Pack
You can't go wrong with stocking up on a few of these Mead Loose Leaf Paper ($23, originally $30). It comes in three packs of 200 sheets — perfect for binders or to use as scratch paper.
23 Traditional #2 Pencils: Ticonderoga #2 HB Soft Pencils
Stock up on the Ticonderoga #2 HB Soft Pencils ($6, originally $9), so that your kid is prepared for standardized tests. Whether it's a state mandatory test or the PSATS, these pencils have #2 lead that scantrons can read.
24 Book Covers: Neon Pattern Book Covers
We love how the Neon Pattern Book Covers ($25) come in complimentary patterns, like this neon set, featuring an array of playful designs. They're made of a "high-strength material," per the brand, which makes them durable. They're washable, too!
25 A Lock: Master Lock 1530DCM Locker Lock Combination Padlock
Ensure their belongings are safe and sound with the Master Lock 1530DCM Locker Lock Combination Padlock ($7), the #1 bestseller on Amazon. Once that's added to cart, consider helping them deck out their locker with a set like the U Brands Locker Organizer and Decorating Kit ($20).
