"Whether you’ve been counting down the days until they go back or have been dreading saying goodbye to all the summer fun, the start of August means one thing: School is back in session. And in between sharpening pencils, stocking up on art supplies, and buying new backpacks, you’re also probably thinking about how to celebrate their first day, and one of our favorite traditions to start (if you haven’t already) is a first day of school photo.
Whether you take photos at home or outside of their school, you’re going to need the perfect back-to-school Instagram caption to mark the special occasion (after all, they’re only ever going to get one first day of whatever grade they’re starting). *Cue the tears.* From funny movie references to sentimental quotes to simple one-liners, keep reading for all the social media inspiration you need to make this first day the best one yet!
Editor’s Note: Just a reminder to keep safety in mind when posting any back-to-school photos to social media. Avoid sharing school/teacher details, check your background for house numbers, street signs, or landmarks, and make sure your social media privacy settings are up-to-date.
First Day of School Captions
Butterfly, fly away. 🦋
Cheers to the new (school) year!
Back with their besties.
Peace out, summer ✌️ You were one for the books!
Dream big, little one.
Oh, the places they will go!
Back to that preschool grind. [or insert whatever grade they’re starting]
The countdown to next summer officially begins!
They get an A+ in cuteness.
Your future is so bright, my love. I can’t wait to watch you shine. 🌟
And just like that, you’re starting school… 🥹
New year, new adventures!
Ready or not, here they come!
I don’t know who is more excited about their first day: them or me. 😂
Happiness is brand-new school supplies.
I can’t wait to see all the memories they’ll make this year. ❤️
They’re gonna rule the world one day. 💪
The best back to school crew!
Until next time, summer. 🌅
Introducing: the future leaders of the world. 😎
Who run the world? GIRLS. – Beyoncé, Run the World (GIRLS)
Saved by the bell! 🔔
Funny Back-to-School Captions
Too cool for school. 😎
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! (parents, iykyk)
Nothing like the smell of freshly sharpened pencils in the morning. ✏️
Celebrating their first day of school! (It’s me. I’m celebrating) 🍾
Summer: they thrived, I survived. Now it’s back to school. 📚
Things that only last as long as the first day of school: their new outfits and my enthusiasm to pack fun lunches.
Be a Fruit Loop in a world full of Cheerios. #firstdayofschool
Back-to-School Quotes
“You take a deep breath and you walk through the doors—it’s the morning of your very first day.” – Taylor Swift, Fifteen
“And all at once, summer collapsed into fall.” – Oscar Wilde
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
“I wish there was a way to know you’re in the good old days before you’ve actually left them.” – Andy Bernard, The Office
“I feel in my heart the start of something new.” 🎵 – High School Musical
“August slipped away into a moment in time 🥹” – Taylor Swift, August
“One child, one teacher, one book, and one pen can change the world.” – Malala Yousafazi
Caitlin Gallagher, Contributing Writer
Caitlin is a writer and editor based in the Chicago suburbs with her husband, daughter, and two dogs, Dale and Oprah (yes, those are seriously their names!). When she’s not writing, you can find her consuming all things interior design or talking about ’90s and early 2000s nostalgia with anyone who will listen.