Do you need some recommendations for what you need for 11th grade? These are my recommended 11th grade school supplies to pack for high school.
These are based on what worked BEST for me after trial and error through my middle and high school years.
I also love these items since they keep me organized and have a system for everything.
Hopefully, this list of 11th grade school supplies will give you some insight into what items you may need and discover a helpful organizational system along the way!
Here are the main school supplies that you would need as an 11th grader.
11th Grade School Supplies That You Need
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1. Mechanical Pencils
Bring a pencil pouch or case to carry a few wooden pencils for tests and mechanical pencils for daily use.
Remember to pack some lead so you can refill it easily when you run out.
I recommend getting better quality mechanical pencils so the lead doesn’t break every few strokes when you press too hard.
This happened to me when I just grabbed a cheap pack of mechanical pencils and the lead broke every couple of seconds-totally not fun at all when I’m trying to scramble notes.
You can also pick up some pencil grips if your pencils don’t have any so if you write for a long time, your fingers won’t be sore or exhausted.
2. Notebooks
You will need notebooks to take notes in and study for upcoming quizzes and exams.
I usually just use the cheap, colorful spiral notebooks that used to be as cheap as a penny.
Too bad those good ol’days are gone.
However, these notebooks can often be spotted at a dime or a quarter during school supplies sales.
If you are very rough with your notebooks, I recommend getting higher-quality notebooks.
3. Backpack
If you have a ton of textbooks or stuff to carry around every day, opt for a sturdy backpack.
A shoulder bag will just kill your shoulders and cause aches.
If you like to access things quickly, I recommend getting a backpack that has two pockets-one small and one big.
You can place all your large items like notebooks, your laptop, and your pencil pouch in the large pocket.
Then you can throw in any snacks, earphones, or phone in your small pocket.
However, if you prefer to have a place for everything, then a compartmentalized backpack is the way to go.
You can separate each of the pockets for school supplies, food, electronics, etc.
If you need to carry a laptop with you, I recommend getting this laptop backpack which is super sturdy and highly rated on Amazon.
4. Laptop
I got my laptop my senior year since I have been using an iPad my high school years.
However, I recommend getting a laptop earlier especially NOW because you need to apply for college and scholarships.
Look for a laptop with a great battery and features.
If you know you will be coding or using adobe for projects, opt for a higher CPU and core for your laptop.
I got an ASUS laptop my senior year and paid for it with a scholarship I won.
Now that I am in my senior year of college, I got a macbook pro for my last quarters and career since my previous laptop battery is deteriorating.
So far, I am loving the battery life and the sound of the macbook!
I recommend investing in a nice laptop that will last you many years and have a loooong battery life so you don’t have to worry about replacing it every few years.
The amount of money you use to replace will be more than just getting the right laptop in the beginning.
Interested in how to win scholarships? Check out The Ultimate Guide to Win Scholarships (From a Full-Ride Recipient).
5. Emergency pouch 
This is one of the key essentials that I recommend that you bring.
You can find a cute, small sized pouch anywhere from Target, Walmart, Amazon, Daiso, or any store.
Include items like:
- Pads or tampons
- Lip balm
- Hair ties
- Bobby pins or hair claw
- Mini body spray
- Hand cream
- Tissues
- Wipes
These are usually the basics of what I carry so I am prepared for any situation.
Think of it as your freshen up/cleanliness pouch where it will save the day-especially on heavy gym days.
You can carry one in your backpack and keep one in your gym locker so you have backup!
6. Planner
Everything is digital in today’s day and age, but I still love the physical feeling of writing and crossing things off on paper.
I love jotting down my assignments, quizzes, exams, special events, and dates onto my planner.
Each year around summer break, I go pick up a planner for the following academic year.
Some key features that to look for are:
- Lines or wide spaces for a daily spread
- A large monthly spread
- Undated or dated
You can pick which features you prefer more, but make sure you are consistent in using them.
If you stick to your planner and look through it every day, I recommend getting a dated one.
On the other hand, if you don’t always have consistent things popping up, an undated planner is the way to go.
I have tried both versions and they both have their pros and cons.
The dated planner is available for only the dates printed, but it allows you to plan ahead and jot down future assignments on specific dates.
However, the undated planner allows you to freely use it for any time/date you wish, but it constrains you from inputting future assignments since there are no pre-numbered dates.
No matter what you decide on, the tool that helps you stay organized and prepared will be the most effective and suitable for you.
7. Pencil Pouch
You can put your pencil in your backpack pockets, but having them all in one pouch or box is so much easier to navigate.
It is also so helpful to have all my pens, pencils, and eraser in one place rather than having to dig through my backpack each time to look for something.
A key tip for better organization in your backpack is to pack small items in separate pouches.
I have an emergency pouch for my key essentials to freshen up, a pencil pouch for all my writing supplies, and a mini snack pouch for small snacks.
It makes everything so easy to find and locate since I just need to pull out that bag.
Not only does it decrease the time that it takes to dig in my backpack, but also great for separating different items from mixing.
8. Folder
Over high school, I have switched between using binders, accordion file folders, and regular folders.
Use whichever method works best for you.
Personally, for me, I find the multi-file system works the best for me.
I did not have to carry heavy, bulky binders (it was also because we had no lockers in our school) all day which made my load a lot lighter.
Instead, I opted for one folder with multiple tabs so I can have all my papers in one place.
I also prefer the vertical view instead of the horizontal view in accordion file folders so I got a portrait view folder.
For notes, I went with notebooks instead of lined paper since it was easier for me to keep track together and not worry if I lost some pages.
9. Colored Pens
I think this might just be me, but taking notes in colored pens motivates me so much more.
You can separate colors for different subjects and use dark blue, black, or red to take your main notes.
Then use the color corresponding to your subject for key points and in the planner.
Some colors that I assigned to my subjects were:
- Red for math
- Green for history
- Blue for science
- Pink for English
- Purple for language
Assigning colors to different subjects will help you associate the connection between them.
Try to have all your notebooks, folders, and pens match the subject color so it will be easier for you to locate them.
10. Eraser
If you use pencils, you will probably make errors.
Any type of eraser is fine, but after using the hi-polymer brand erasers, I haven’t looked back.
I didn’t know erasers can erase so cleanly and leave no pencil streaks.
Done. I was sold and this has been the brand I have been using since high school.
You only need a pack and it will last you the entire year and more unless you erase like a lot a lot.
11. Highlighters 
I also recommend getting a pack of highlighters to make important parts of your notes stand out.
If you don’t want to get colored pens, colored highlighters will be enough to use.
You can use the corresponding color to your subject and also for highlighting your notes.
But, I’m extra so I always have both highlighters and pens in my pencil pouch.
I’m the type to be over-prepared so I always have a bunch of stuff with me.
Of course, only get the items that you will need and work for your schoolwork.
12. Erasable Whiteboard
Ok, this one is not necessary, necessary but it’s one of my most used items for high school.
Instead of using huge amounts of scratch paper, you can save trees with a whiteboard. You get to study and save the planet. Win-win!
I have a large whiteboard in my room where I like to solve all my problems, study questions, and reminders.
You can also get one to put on the wall to save space and be easy to view.
If you want a whiteboard to double as a reminder, you can either get one with a calendar view or draw one on the board.
Some whiteboards also have cork areas where you can tack sticky notes or reminders.
A whiteboard is perfect for studying difficult material where you can practice over and over again.
Once you are confident with the material, try to erase your notes or work and recreate it from memory.
It is great for testing and memorization tasks.
13. Sticky Notes
If you need to jot down quick notes, or reminders, a pack of sticky notes will be great.
You can use different colors for different subjects.
If you have smaller things to jot down, you can opt for smaller-sized sticky notes.
This is essential since I always needed to jot down quick dates or important events.
Once I have it scribbled on a sticky note, I can then neatly flip through and place the information into my planner.
Interested in more posts like recommended 11th grade school supplies? Check out Must-Have College Freshman Survival Kit.
14. Index Cards
Even though everything is digital nowadays, I find index cards great for studying vocab words or concepts.
There are plenty of options from colored ones, lined ones, and blank index cards.
Grab a pack for any studying that you plan on doing.
I find that I spend more time on paper flashcards than digital ones since I spent more time handwriting them and using them.
The physical feeling of holding, interacting and feeling the paper flashcards will be better for you to study since you are spending more time and interacting with it more.
15. Mini Stapler/Scissors Pack
It’s so convenient to have a mini set of stapler and scissors packed in your backpack when you need to staple some papers or cut off a loose thread.
You will probably find your classmates huddling around one area to staple papers if there is only one large stapler in your class.
When I had a set in school, a lot of my fellow classmates asked to borrow the stapler.
So to speed up time and help out your fellow friends, you can bring a small set for school.
These are all the 11th grade school supplies I recommend and stand by for better organization, studying, and usefulness.
This post was all about 11th grade school supplies that you need for a successful school year.
