Closings, Delays & Early Dismissals

Albemarle County Public Schools (ACPS) approaches inclement weather decisions with the safety of our students, staff, and other members of our community as our primary concern. We consider information from several sources to help us reach each decision, including:

• Road conditions for bus travel and student and staff drivers;
• Weather forecasts; and
• Assessments by law enforcement, the Virginia Department of Transportation, and other localities.

With a geographical area of nearly 750 square miles, Albemarle County’s large size and mixture of rural and urban settings creates a unique challenge for the school division in determining school closings, delays, and early dismissals. Our buses travel roads ranging from multi-lane highways to narrow dirt roads crossing mountains and one-lane bridges. Often roads in the urban ring around Charlottesville may be clear while those in more rural areas may be inaccessible for a longer period of time following a storm.

ACPS considers four options when bad weather becomes a factor in the school schedule:

• Delay the opening of school by one hour;
• Delay the opening of school by two hours;
• Dismiss school early; or
• Cancel school for the day.

Please note: ACPS will consider individual school closures in response to loss of power.

While we sometimes have enough information to make and communicate scheduling decisions in the evening, the timeline below represents a general guideline of the decision-making process when it occurs in the early morning.

2 to 4 a.m.

Transportation Services Road Assessment Team drives assigned routes to evaluate conditions and hazards for school buses in six sections of the county. Other team members monitor weather forecasts and consult with other agencies and localities.

4:30 a.m.

Road Assessment Team reports to Director of Transportation.

4:45 a.m.

Director of Transportation submits recommendation to the Superintendent’s Office and final decision is made regarding school operations.

By 5 a.m.

If decision is made to change the school schedule, communications process commences.

BY 5:30 a.m.

School Schedule Hotline updated: 434-296-5886 (Para español, llame al 434-975-9332.)

By 6 a.m.

School division announces decision by voice, email and text to all subscribers of the Electronic School Notification System; posts decision on school division website and social media sites; and notifies local media.

When we opt to close schools based on icy road conditions or a forecast, we may reserve the option to open school buildings for certain after-school activities, in the event that road conditions improve or the forecast does not come to fruition. (Note: This consideration applies only to school-based activities; community use activities remain canceled when schools are closed.)

10 to 11:30 a.m.

Transportation Services reevaluates road conditions and hazards throughout the county, monitors forecasts, and consults with other agencies and localities.

11:45 a.m.

Director of Transportation submits recommendation to the Superintendent’s Office and final decision is made regarding after-school operations.

By 1 p.m.

If approval is granted for schools to hold extracurricular activities, individual schools determine which of their activities will take place and announce decision by voice, email and text using the Electronic School Notification System.

Note: If you do not hear from your school by 1 p.m., all after-school activities remain canceled.

In the case of an unscheduled early closing, EDEP's After-School Enrichment Program will not operate. Please make certain your child’s school has current information regarding where your child should go in the event of an early closing.

EDEP's After-School Enrichment Program will not operate on the last day of school, Friday, May 29. The final day of the after-school program is Thursday, May 28, 2026.

The 2025-26 school year calendar includes only one half-day for students: the last day of school, Friday, May 29, 2026. (This is a half-day for students, followed by a half-workday for teachers.)

Dismissal times for Friday, May 29, are as follows:

• 11:30 a.m. | All elementary schools
• 12:05 p.m. | Intensive Support Center and Ivy Creek School
• 12:15 p.m. | Center I and Post High
• 12:30 p.m. | Community Lab School
• 12:50 p.m. | All high schools
• 1:05 p.m. | All middle schools

Note: When the half-day is on a Friday, as is the case on May 29, all half-day Special Needs Pre-K programs dismiss at 11:30 instead of 11 a.m.

Virginia public schools must be in session for 180 days or 990 hours each school year. The approved 2025-26 calendar includes 1,062 hours of instructional time, which is 72 hours above the state’s minimum requirement. These extra hours, often called “banked” time, help us cover time missed due to weather-related delays or closures without needing to make up every missed day.

ACPS keeps track of missed time throughout the school year. If we experience significant weather-related disruptions and our banked hours begin to run low, we may need to make up missed time before we exceed the state’s minimum requirements. The most likely options include:

• Turning scheduled teacher workdays or professional learning days into school days
• Temporarily extending the length of the school day
• Adding days to the end of the school year
• Asking the state for a waiver,* if that is an option

If we need to change the school calendar, we will use our usual communication methods to share updates and expectations with families and staff ahead of time.

*A waiver allows schools to meet state requirements without making up every missed day if the missed time was due to weather or other emergencies.

To find out if our facilities will be available for scheduled building rentals during inclement weather, call the Community Building Use Hotline at 434-975-9331.