Back to school

Pre-kindergarten students learn a song with teacher Lisa Harmison during their first day of school at 186th Street Elementary in Gardena on Tuesday.

Dean Tagawa, director of early childhood education, and pre-kindergarten students Jordan Cuff, second from left, and Emanuel Lopez, right, work with building blocks during the first day of school at 186th Street Elementary in Gardena on Tuesday.

Vega smiles for her father, Chris, behind a picture frame made by her teacher on the first day of kindergarten at the Telesis Academy in West Covina on Aug. 17. Thousands of students across Southern California are returning to school this week.

First-grade teacher Maritza Ferrandiz, left, asks Ray Cortez, 6, to hold the classroom sign as she has students line up to enter the classroom Aug. 18 on the first day of classes at Vine Street Elementary School in Hollywood.

Teacher Susan Ferguson leads her homeroom students on the first day of classes at Jefferson High School in Los Angeles on Aug. 18.

Students say goodbye to their parents and get in line to enter Maritza Ferrandiz’s first-grade classroom at Vine Street Elementary School in Hollywood on Aug. 18.

First-grade students at Vine Street Elementary School wait to enter the classroom.

Natalie Paredes, mother to Angie and Marjorie, takes photos of her daughters with friends at Vine Street Elementary School in Hollywood on Aug. 18.

First-grade students line up at Vine Street Elementary School in Hollywood.

Cortes lets out a big yawn while saying goodbye to her father, Omar Cortes, on the first day of kindergarten at Telesis Academy in West Covina on Aug. 17.

Students line-up for their buses on Hooper Street next to Jefferson High School where they are transported to several schools in the area.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

Students arrive for the first day of classes at Jefferson High School on Monday.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)