Inclement Weather FAQs

There are approximately 158 roads in Albemarle County that become inaccessible with even a small amount of snow; 79 of those are unpaved. The level of driving difficulty caused by snow conditions on these roads​ varies widely. In some cases, the road itself may be minimally accessible, but adjacent hazards or obstacles such as severe drop-offs, lack of sight distance around curves, narrowing of the road, low-hanging branches and insufficient cleared space to safely turn the bus around make them unsafe or impractical for school bus travel. Here is a map of our county and our snow patrol routes.

The number of roads that remain inaccessible once urban roads are cleared will ultimately depend on the severity of the particular storm and the ability of VDOT to adequately clear roads. It is also important to know that many of these roads do not receive direct sunlight due to the dense foliage and over-hanging trees present. As a result, days after urban roads are cleared these roads remain snow covered or even iced over, should the temperature drop. Examples of roads that fit this category can be found throughout the county. Here is a map of our county and our snow patrol routes.

The two-hour delay is used primarily for two reasons. First, the delay allows for the onset of daylight, eliminating at least one hazard to driving a larger vehicle over narrow snow covered roads. The second reason for a two-hour delay is to avoid the full brunt of the morning rush hour traffic, which serves to minimize the number of other vehicles traveling the roads at the same time. The motoring public is often our biggest driving challenge during inclement weather.

In recent years, we have begun monitoring the unpaved roads more closely so that we can return to school more quickly. We have asked families, in some instances, to bring their children to alternate bus stop locations so that we could return to school.

The decision on what areas in a school district will receive service and what areas will not is entirely up to the school district. For example, some school districts elect not to transport students who reside within a specified distance of their school, or other students who reside on private roads, or any number of different criteria.

The assumption that SUV and other larger type vehicles such as school buses provide increased passenger protection is correct. However, the increase in passenger protection refers to vehicle-to-vehicle or vehicle-to-fixed object collisions. Part of the thinking when recommending school closings stems from the desire to avoid these kind of collisions, however, there are greater potential hazards unique to school buses that we must also consider. For example, school buses are more likely to meet other vehicles too large for the two vehicles to pass on narrow, mountainous, snow covered roads with little or no room for safely maneuvering. Because of their size and limited maneuverability, school buses run a higher risk of skidding off the road surface, of sliding, or rolling into a ravine or nearby body of water. Also, there are countless one-lane bridges throughout the county, many barely wider than the bus that represent unique challenges especially once they are snow covered. These and other factors are what the transportation recommendation is based on.

ACPS does not currently plan to use remote learning days during weather-related closures. While remote learning remains an option during extended school closures, we are unlikely to use it in the near future unless there are extenuating circumstances that require a different approach. Our ability to implement remote learning depends on all students having equitable and reliable internet access—something we are making steady progress toward, though a few areas of our county still face connectivity challenges. We also know that online learning is not as effective or helpful as in-person learning for most students and families.

In order to provide equitable instruction time for our students, ACPS does not close some schools and open others during inclement weather. This is, in part, due to staffing–many of our employees live in one part of the county and work in another, which could make it difficult or dangerous for employees to travel to work. Additionally, closing only some schools can create inequities among our larger student population. We strive to maintain equity among our schools.