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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Students line up after school for school buses at Sequoyah Middle School in Doraville on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025. The school’s principal told teachers not to talk to students about ICE, and teachers and activists are pushing back. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com

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Students line up after school for school buses at Sequoyah Middle School in Doraville on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025. The school’s principal told teachers not to talk to students about ICE, and teachers and activists are pushing back. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com