Approximately 225 first-graders will begin their school journey in Riihimäki.

The pre-school units and basic education schools in the city of Riihimäki will begin their academic year on Wednesday, August 12, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. In upper secondary schools, the school day for new first-year students will begin at 9:30 a.m. Information about the opening of the academic year for upper secondary school students who are continuing their studies will be provided in Wilma.

The city council's decision on the service network from June is not yet reflected in basic education. According to the decision, the city will abandon Pohjolanrinne Middle School in the 2031–2032 academic year at the earliest. However, the decision did not affect this autumn's student enrollment at Pohjolanrinne.

This autumn in Riihimäki:

• approximately 215 children in preschool
• approximately 225 first grade students in basic education
• a total of approximately 2,600 primary school students
• 170 first-year students in high school
• a total of approximately 525 high school students.

Last fall, 259 first-graders started their school journey. This fall, there are 34 fewer first-graders. This fall, 115 fewer first-graders will start than ten years ago.

At the start of school, guardians of primary education students and households of high school students are informed in more detail about the practices related to the start of the school year.

The afternoon activity is a supervised leisure activity and is intended primarily for students in grades 1–2. The application period was last spring, but any vacancies will be filled during the school year as long as there are places available. The afternoon activity begins on the first day of school, August 12.

In Riihimäki, the organization of afternoon activities has been transferred from early childhood education to basic education.

Early childhood education

Riihimäki's early childhood education, i.e. daycare centers and family daycare, have returned to normal operations on Monday, August 3, 2026. Children will return to early childhood education from vacation during August-September according to the families' individual schedules. We would like to remind guardians to report their children's daily early childhood education time to the DaisyFamily system.

The Satellite Unit of Peltosaari Daycare Centers has ceased operations at the end of June. In accordance with the City Council's service network decision, the city will be giving up the main building of the Junailijankatu Daycare Center (Junailijankatu 14) and the Saturnus Daycare Center (Saturnuksenkatu 2) located in the city center in the longer term. The Saturnus Daycare Center operates as part of the Peltosaari Daycare Center. The premises will be replaced by a new daycare center building located in Peltosaari.

School transport

All schoolchildren and students can travel free of charge on R-liikenti buses on the first day of school, Wednesday, August 12th.

If a student is entitled to school transportation by public transport, they are entitled to free public transport for the entire school year.

School transport is granted if the distance to school is more than three kilometers for pre-school and 1st–3rd grade students and more than five kilometers for 4th–9th grade students.

Only students who are not in supplemented early childhood education but who participate in preschool education for four hours a day are entitled to school transportation.

If a student is not entitled to school transport and wants to use public transport, they can purchase a children's and youth semester or academic year ticket. The student can choose whether to use Matkahuolto's Matkat application or a travel card. The travel card can be purchased at Tietotuva.

The code required to activate the mobile ticket can be obtained from Tietotuva (Travel Centre, Eteläinen Asemakatu 2). Pupils or students must be prepared to prove their age with an ID card or Kela card. The code is entered into the Matkat application.

Upper secondary school students who are subject to compulsory education and whose distance to school is more than seven kilometres receive Kela's school travel allowance. The allowance is applied for through OmaKela.

Please be mindful of school children in traffic.

As school starts, we want to remind city residents to pay close attention to children starting the school year in traffic.