Inclement Weather Emergencies
School closing announcements due to inclement weather are publicized in the following ways:
- ParentSquare
- ACPS Website
- ACPS Social Media: Facebook | Twitter
- ACPS Social Media en español: Facebook | Twitter
- City of Alexandria eNews: subscribe to this email announcement list via the City of Alexandria website
- ACPS Hotline: 703-866-5300
- Local television and radio stations
In the case of other emergencies, information will be announced as early as possible. Parents should make arrangements for the care of their children.
When schools close early or for the entire day, all after-school activities and athletic events are canceled for the day.
The opening or closing of the Federal or Alexandria City Government does not cause the opening or closing of schools.
The ACPS Office of Communications coordinates all emergency communication. During an emergency situation, Communications serves as the liaison between the schools and the public/media. If you have questions regarding the handling of emergency procedures, please contact the Office of Communications at news@acps.k12.va.us.
The team at Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) has planned for the days when in-person instruction may not be possible. Our plan includes the notification process and the continuation of learning during these unforeseen winter weather conditions. Our goal is to support continuity of learning while also preserving any future days when schools may need to close.
When winter weather (snow, ice, or extreme cold temperatures) occurs, and buses cannot safely transport students to and from school, it may be necessary for ACPS to close school buildings and provide at-home virtual instruction under these circumstances. The safety of our students and staff is our number one priority when considering school closures during a winter weather situation. We work in conjunction with the City of Alexandria emergency management staff to assess road conditions and include school personnel in inspecting the conditions of roads, sidewalks, ACPS parking lots, and bus lanes.
ACPS attempts to make school closure decisions the evening prior to a winter weather event, taking into consideration that families and staff need time to make proper arrangements. However, when there is a lot of uncertainty around a winter weather forecast, we will wait to get the latest morning forecast and road condition update from the City of Alexandria emergency management staff. When we are unable to make a decision the evening prior to the potential weather event, the superintendent will make the decision about whether to close school buildings and provide at-home virtual instruction for students by approximately 5:00 a.m. In either case, families and staff will receive regular updates via the ACPS website.
Weather Emergencies & Closure Information
In the case of a winter weather-related closing, families will receive notification via email and text, and staff will receive notification via email. Additionally, the ACPS website, hotline and social media channels will include an alert with the appropriate information and ACPS will share information about winter weather-related closings with local news outlets. This information will remain posted until normal operations have resumed.