These days, instead of just paper and pencils, back-to-school shopping lists run parents through sporting goods seeking tennis balls, the food aisles for bottled water and snacks, even the cleaning aisles for sanitizers and wipes.

It’s a sign of the times: as educating students becomes more complex, so do their needs at school.

In some cases, a student’s socioeconomic background often dictates where teachers find themselves spending money.

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Wade Roberts (center), a Decatur parent with children in three of the city schools, addresses concerns  with the possibility of a K-2 school closing. (Daniel Varnado for the AJC)

Credit: Daniel Varnado/For the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

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Travelers wait in Concourse F, the international terminal, at Hartsfield-Jackson airport in Atlanta on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Arvin Temkar / AJC)

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com