STUDENTS in area schools and colleges will be returning to campus over the next three weeks (Shutterstock).

“Back-to-school” is something that used to happen in September, but these days, things move faster and all but three of the school systems and colleges in the West Orange County area will be opening their doors this month, in August.

The Garden Grove Unified School District, with an opening day of Monday, Aug. 16, is the first in the area to resume classes for the fall semester. The latest starter is the Huntington Beach City School District, beginning on Thursday, Sept. 9.

Here is a list of the start dates for area school districts and colleges, based on their published calendars. The dates given below refer to the first day of instruction.

• GGUSD: Aug. 16
• Cal State Long Beach: Tuesday, Aug. 17
• Ocean View School District, Orange Unified School District: Wednesday, Aug. 18
• Cal State Fullerton: Saturday, Aug. 21
• Santa Ana, Cypress and Fullerton colleges: Monday, Aug. 23
• Golden West, Orange Coast, Coastline colleges and Chapman University: Monday, Aug. 30
• Westminster School District, Huntington Beach Union High School District: Wednesday, Sept. 1
• Ocean View School District: Wednesday, Sept. 8
• Huntington Beach City School District: Thursday, Sept. 9.