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40 Back to School Memes That’ll Crack You Up

Whether you're a longtime parent or brand new teacher, you'll be cackling at these memes before the big day.

Back To School Memes Header
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Back to school, back to memes

Time to head back to school! It’s both an exciting and stressful time for everyone involved, and even though we go through the same routine every year, it never seems to get any easier. But since we’re all in this together, maybe it’s time to add a little humor to the mix while you cherish those sacred final days of summer. These back to school memes will ring true for both parents and teachers as we head into fall. If you’re looking for the best of the best memes, we’ve got you covered! But if you want to still hold onto the break as long as possible, we have summer memes and vacation memes for you too. Most importantly, may we all appreciate how much parents and teachers do to make sure kids get the best education possible. And remember: Thanksgiving break is just around the corner.

Welcome Back To School
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The true spooky season

Cue the evil laugh track. Make sure you’re prepared with these back to school essentials for an easy first day.

When You Realize Summer Is Over
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A good reason to cry

It always passes by too fast. When you’re done laughing at these back to school memes, keep up to date with the best back to school sales this year.

Homework Is Coming
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Beware

Deep breaths.

Back To School… Time To Officially Remember What Day Of The Week It Is
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Check the calendar

Is it Tuesday or Friday? Regardless, these teaching quotes will truly inspire you and leave you cherishing teachers even more.

Mom’s On The First Day Of School
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Let freedom ring

It’s like Christmas in September. Check out these school jokes that will make even the bus driver chuckle.

For Teachers, August Is Just A Never Ending Sunday Evening
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Sunday Scaries

Can you believe summer is almost over? Maybe laughing at these good morning memes will make waking up for the first day a little easier.

When Your Face Gets Stuck In This Position After “welcome Back To School” Night
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Big smile

Oh yes, my face always looks like this.

Cheers To The First Day Of School And The Official Countdown Until Thanksgiving Break
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Gobble gobble

If you count the number of days instead of number of months, it sounds like less time.

When You Dread Going Back To School, But Then Remember You Get To Buy All New School Supplies
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Pens! Notebooks! Highlighters! Oh my!

Who doesn’t love that fresh notebook smell? Find out why school starts in the fall and not in January like the new calendar year.

Creating A Seating Chart Is Like Playing Sudoku… Except Harder
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When you’d rather not

Maybe we should just do alphabetical order….See what school looked like 100 years ago. It’ll make you appreciate the here and now.

Parents Dropping Off Their Kids On The First Day Of School
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High five!

We made it!

Teachers Hanging Onto Summer Like…
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Never let go

Just one more day! Save these happy birthday memes for a student or classmate celebrating their birthday at school.

You And Your Teacher Bff Ready To Conquer The First Day
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It’s time

You have prepared all summer for this.

You The Day Before The First Day Of School
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Proper preparation

It’s an important day.

Teacher’s Moving Classrooms Before The First Day
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Moving truck

It’s not that much stuff. Don’t miss these hilarious back-to-work memes that are just too relatable.

Teachers Staring At The Screen Hoping The Lesson Plans Will Just Write Themselves
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Teachers have homework too

If you stare long enough…

Getting Ready For The First Day Of School
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Dress to impress

There’s nothing quite like those fresh back to school shoes. If you crushed your summer reading, you’ll love these book memes.

When Your Kid Comes Home From School With A Recorder
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Is this a joke?

I wonder how long it will be before it “breaks.”

You Embracing Paul Revere Every Morning Telling “the Bus Is Coming! The Bus Is Coming!”
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Revolutionary

Off to the races.

You Preparing To Read Your Child’s Syllabus
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Get ready

How much homework?

Teachers On The First Day Of School
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More coffee

Still not enough. Take a sip of our carefully crafted coffee quotes that will make you laugh a latte.

But, But, But I Don’t Want To Go Back To School
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The night before

Honestly, I’m not sure I blame them.

Nothing Like Brand New, Freshly Sharpened Pencils
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New year, new me

So perfect you almost don’t want to use them. Almost.

Mom’s After They Drop Their Kids Off At School
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Happy days

Things are looking up.

Super Mom. Super Wife. Super Tired.
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Relatable

Back to school isn’t only exhausting for the kids. If these back to school memes are getting to you, check out these mom memes that will make you double over with laughter.

When You Told Yourself, You Would Never Need Long Division, But Then Your Kid Asks For Homework Help
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Come on

I didn’t even know how to do this when I was the student.

Target The Day Before The First Day Of School
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School supplies

May the odds be ever in your favor.

The Most Exciting Part Of “back To School”
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New shoes

Nothing like a new pair of kicks.

Nothing Says “back To School” Like Buying Large Quantities Of Paper Towels, Kleenex, And 100 Glue Sticks
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Don’t forget those No. 2 pencils

Back to school or the apocalypse?

Preparing For “back To School” By Making The Kids Lunches They Don’t Want To Eat
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PB & J again?

The other kids always seem to have better snacks.

Teacher Friends Catching Up On The First Day
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True friends

You missed them. Don’t miss these funny friend memes you’ll want to send to your BFF ASAP.

When Another Teacher Has A Pinterest Inspired Classroom, But You Still Need To Unload Your Car
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Is this a joke?

You’re making the rest of us look bad. It’s okay—at least you have a stash of the best grammar memes to laugh at while you lesson plan.

When You Buy You Kid New Sneakers For School, And They Come Home Like This
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How?

How dirty can one person get?

But Don’t You See? If I Organize My Classroom And Make It Super Cute, The Whole Year Will Run Smoothly
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It’s the thought that counts

We need to appreciate teachers more for trying so hard.

You After Getting Ready For The First Day Of School
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Exhausting

What is more tiring? Going to school or the preparation that goes into going to school?

When The Kids Start Coughing In The Morning
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Oh, please

Absolutely fake. (Probably. It is the time of COVID after all.) Check out these animal memes that may even remind you of your own children.

Mom Trying To Get The Most Perfect “first Day Of School” Picture
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Every year

This will occur through college.

When Your Kid Is Actually Growing Up Way Too Fast
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But you actually may miss them

Where did the time go?

Ready To Conquer The First Day Of School
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Ready to get educated

If anyone can do it, they can.

You After The First Day Of School.
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Crushed it

Now if only I was ready for the second day. Now that you’ve giggled over these back to school memes, crack up over these Labor Day memes that will cure the end of summer blues.

Emma Taubenfeld
Emma Taubenfeld is a former assistant editor for Reader’s Digest who writes about digital lifestyle topics such as memes, social media captions, pickup lines and cute pets. When she’s not working, you can find Emma reading corny young adult novels, creating carefully curated playlists and figuring out how to spice up boxed mac and cheese.