74 Philly Public Schools Dismissing Early Due To Heat

PHILADELPHIA — With extreme heat hitting the Philadelphia area this week and students heading back to school, dozens are planning to close early in the first week of classes.

The School District of Philadelphia is making adjustments to schools without air conditioning or inadequate cooling to ensure safe and healthy school environments for our students and staff.

Seventy-four district schools will close early Tuesday and Wednesday. The district will monitor temperature conditions and make any decisions about Thursday or Friday dismissal schedule changes by noon the day before.

A heat advisory is in effect for parts of the region this week as maximum “feels like” temperatures are expected to reach up to 105 degrees Tuesday, forecasters said.

The sweltering temperatures are a result of a hot and humid air mass over the region, according to the National Weather Service. Pennsylvania residents should be prepared for temperatures in the low- to mid-90s, with heat index values - that is, a measure of how hot it really feels outside - even higher, especially in urban areas adjacent to Interstate 95.

“Summer isn't quite done with us yet,” the National Weather Service Mount Holly station said in a statement. “Highs will be in the 90s with dew points well in the 60s. Stay cool and hydrated!”

Five Pennsylvania counties are under a heat advisory from 8 a.m. Tuesday to 8 p.m. Wednesday as heat index values around 100 degrees are expected. The affected counties are:

• Delaware
• Philadelphia
• Chester
• Montgomery
• Bucks

The heat wave is slated to linger for several days, according to AccuWeather.

Exposure to excessive heat can cause heat-related illnesses, such as dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke.

In extreme heat, the district encourages families to please remember to keep their children hydrated and dressed in light-colored and lightweight clothing, and be sure they wear sunscreen.

"Student safety is our number one priority, and the District is taking several measures to help maintain healthy and comfortable classroom conditions," said Oz Hill, Chief Operating Officer for the School District of Philadelphia. "The District has invested $285.7 million to improve electrical and HVAC systems in 23 schools, with an emphasis on those serving elementary students. We have installed over 800 window air conditioning units and over 1,400 hydration stations to provide cool, filtered drinking water."

The district will continue to expedite the installation of cooling systems, with the goal over time of providing every school with the cooling system needed to eliminate extreme heat as a disrupting factor for in-person learning.

As part of the district’s new five-year strategic plan, Accelerate Philly, the district will establish a facilities master plan project team, including internal and external stakeholders, to identify a process and investments needed within school learning environments that maximize learning.

The District appreciates family and staff’s patience and flexibility as it navigates extreme heat conditions while working to provide every school with the updated air conditioning system it needs to support comfortable teaching and learning environments.

Philadelphia Schools dismissing early Tuesday and Wednesday are:

• AMY James Martin
• AMY Northwest
• Anderson, Marian
• Bache-Martin*
• Barton, Clara*
• Blaine, James*
• Bridesburg Annex
• Building 21
• Casarez, Gloria
• Castor Gardens
• Catharine, Joseph*
• Cassidy, Lewis
• Central HS
• Comegys, B.
• Comly, Watson
• Crossan, Kennedy
• Day, Anna*
• Disston, Hamilton
• Dunbar, Paul
• Ellwood
• Emlen, Eleanor*
• Fell, D Newlin
• Finletter, Thomas
• Fitler, Edwin
• Fitzpatrick, A.*
• Fox Chase
• Franklin, Ben HS
• Furness, Horace
• Gideon, Edward*
• Girard, Stephen
• Harding, Warren
• Henry, Charles
• Hill-Freedman
• Hopkinson, Francis
• Houston, Henry
• Howe, Julia
• Jenks, Abram
• Jenks, John S
• Kirkbride, E.*
• Lamberton*
• Lingelbach, Anna
• Loesche*
• Ludlow, James
• McCloskey, John
• McClure, A.*
• McMichael, M.*
• Meredith, William
• Mitchell, Weir
• Moore, J. Hampton
• MYA
• Nebinger, George*
• Olney Elementary
• OEC Annex
• Overbrook ES
• Parkway West
• Patterson, John*
• Penn Treaty
• Rhawnhurst*
• Roosevelt, T.
• Rowen, William
• Roxborough HS
• Sayre, William
• Sharswood, George*
• Sheppard, Issac
• SLA (BFHS)
• South Phila. HS*
• Spring Garden
• Spruance, Gilbert*
• Sullivan, James
• Tilden, William
• The U School
• Wagner, Gen. Louis
• Waring, Laura
• Washington, Martha

(*) Schools have PreK/Head Start on-site