Inclement Weather

When do schools close because of heat?

Early dismissal for all schools without air-conditioning will be considered when...

• The temperature in the majority of classrooms in most buildings is 85 degrees or higher, and students cannot be relocated to cooler areas
  (principals will report inside temperatures to the district office no later than 10:00 a.m. each day during hot weather)
  - or -
• The outside heat index reaches 100 degrees by 10:30 a.m.
  (this is the "feels like" reading that combines temperature and humidity)

Note that the district may also consider closing individual schools depending on conditions in specific buildings. This includes air-conditioned schools, if their cooling systems are not working properly and repairs cannot be made quickly.

When might all schools close early?

When schools open on time but weather changes make it unsafe to travel later in the day, schools may close early — usually 2.5 hours early.

When schools close early, extended-day and after-school programs and all interscholastic athletic events are canceled, but lunch is served in all schools.

When does the district close just one or a few schools?

Individual schools may close because of problems in the neighborhood around the school (e.g., a power outage or water main break) or in the school building itself (e.g., a furnace problem that can't be fixed that day). Check out the building status map, and scroll down for more information about closing for heat or cold.

When do schools close because of cold?

Between 6:30 and 9:00 every morning, highly accurate temperature readings are taken in schools.

If temperatures are below 60 degrees in many areas of the building, the principal calls a designated direct phone line at the district office to report a problem.

A facilities technician goes to the school and determines how quickly the problem can be addressed.

If the temperature is below 60 in a classroom, school staff will relocate students to a warmer area of the building. If temperatures below 60 are widespread and the facilities technician determines the problem cannot be fixed within two hours, the principal and district leadership will determine if a closure or early dismissal is necessary.

How are decisions made on “snow days” for the whole district?

Starting the night before, staff check road conditions, neighborhood sidewalks, school parking lots, and school walkways. They also talk with the Baltimore City Department of Transportation, the Maryland Mass Transit Administration, and local weather forecasters.

City Schools' CEO or designee reviews all the information and makes the decision whether to open on time, delay opening for two hours, or close. The decision is made as early as possible — we aim for 5:00 a.m., or earlier if conditions allow.

When does the district delay opening for all schools?

Schools may open two hours late when travel conditions aren’t safe at 5:00 a.m. but are expected to get better or travel conditions are safe but could get worse before the regular school day starts. A delayed opening means that half-day early learning programs are canceled and school breakfast is not served. 

If the decision is to open two hours late and then the weather gets worse, schools may close for the day. On days with a delayed opening, make sure to check City Schools Twitter, Facebook, or this website before leaving for school, to make sure a change hasn’t been announced. We aim to make that updated announcement no later than 7:00 a.m.