More Philadelphia Public Schools Closing Early Due To Heat

PHILADELPHIA — A dozen more School District of Philadelphia schools are closing early due to intense heat in the forecast.

The district Wednesday announced additional schools that will be dismissing early.

Over the holiday weekend, the district announced 74 schools would be closing early this week.

The number of schools closing now is 86.

Students at these schools, which are without air conditioning or adequate cooling, will attend schools in the morning and then be released on an early dismissal schedule for the remainder of the week.

A full list of schools closing early is below:

• Allen, Ethan
• AMY James Martin
• AMY Northwest
• Anderson, Marian
• Bache-Martin*
• Bartram, John
• Barton, Clara*
• Blaine, James*
• Bridesburg
• Bridesburg Annex
• Brown, Joseph H.
• 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
• Feltonville Intermediate
• Finletter, Thomas
• Fitler, Edwin
• Fitzpatrick, A.*
• Fox Chase
• Franklin, Ben HS
• Franklin S. Edmonds
• Furness, Horace
• Gideon, Edward*
• Girard, Stephen
• Harding, Warren
• Henry, Charles
• Hill-Freedman
• Hopkinson, Francis
• Houston, Henry
• Howe, Julia
• Hunter, William
• Jenks, Abram
• Jenks, John S
• Kirkbride, E.*
• Lamberton*
• Lingelbach, Anna
• Locke, Alain
• Loesche*
• Ludlow, James
• Mastbaum
• McCloskey, John
• McClure, A.*
• McMichael, M.*
• Meredith, William
• Mitchell, Weir
• Moore, J. Hampton
• Morrison, Andrew J.
• 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, Grover
• Washington, Martha
• Workshop School

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

The district said it hopes to make schedule decisions as early as possible, and no later than 24 hours in advance.

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.

They can also review this Keeping Kids Safe When Temperatures Soar resource for other helpful tips.

"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.