What New York Parents May Pay for Back-to-School

It's kind of depressing to walk into a store in early August and see the summer section giving way to backpacks, notebooks, and pencils. I'm not ready to say goodbye to summer, but like it or not, another school year is almost here.

For parents across Upstate New York, those displays are also a reminder that preparing a child for school can take a serious bite out of the family budget.

Parents Expect to Spend $885 per Child on Back-to-School Costs

A new Good Morning America/Ipsos Parents Poll found that parents expect to spend an average of $885 per child for the 2026 back-to-school season.

That number stopped me in my tracks. If you have two school-age children, the average would add up to $1,770. For three children, it would climb to $2,655.

As the mom of a kid heading into sixth grade, I know the school supply list is only the beginning. Children outgrow clothes, shoes need to be replaced, and activities bring their own expenses. That's important context because the $885 estimate covers everything from backpacks and books to technology, clothing, and after-school activities.

Sports and Activities Make Up the Largest School Expense

According to ABC News, parents expect to spend an average of:

$337 on sports and other after-school activities
$275 on clothing and shoes
$118 on supplies such as backpacks and lunchboxes
$102 on technology, including laptops, tablets, and calculators
$52 on books

Those amounts total $884 because the individual figures were rounded, while the poll reported an overall average of $885.

This breakdown matters because it shows how quickly the extras can overtake the traditional school supply list. You might find a good sale on crayons and notebooks, only to be handed a much larger bill for soccer equipment, new sneakers, or a calculator a few weeks later.

Most Parents Say Back-to-School Prices Are Higher

The poll found that 68% of parents believe the items they normally purchase for back-to-school season are more expensive this year than last year. Another 30% said prices are about the same.

Even so, only 40% expect to spend more than usual. Another 46% plan to spend about the same amount, while 13% expect to spend less.

Parents with household incomes below $50,000 appear especially vulnerable to the added pressure. Among that group, 52% expect to spend more this year, compared with 34% of parents earning at least $100,000.

Older Students May Need More Expensive Clothing

Parents of high school students expect to spend an average of $332 on clothing and shoes, while parents of middle school students anticipate spending $290. Parents of elementary students expect to spend $218.

That difference will probably make sense to anyone who has watched a child outgrow perfectly good shoes seemingly overnight.

What the Back-to-School Poll Means for New York Families

The GMA/Ipsos poll was conducted from July 28 through July 30, 2026. It surveyed 1,213 parents nationwide who have at least one child entering kindergarten through 12th grade during the 2026–2027 school year. The children could attend public, private, religious, or homeschool.

Because this was a national poll, $885 shouldn't be treated as the exact amount every Upstate New York family will spend. Obviously, some parents will spend far less, while others will spend much more.

Still, it's a helpful reminder to look beyond the basic supply list when planning. Clothes, shoes, activities, and technology may be the expenses that really test the budget.

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Those back-to-school displays may feel much too early, but getting a head start could give you more time to compare prices, reuse what is still in good condition, and avoid trying to pay for everything at once.