The safety of students and staff guides every weather-related decision. PGCPS evaluates several factors before announcing a closure, delay or early dismissal.
Prince George's County spans more than 500 square miles, and conditions can vary widely from one area to another. Because PGCPS operates 202 schools and more than 1,300 buses, decisions typically apply districtwide. Even if major roads appear clear, sidewalks, parking lots or bus lots in other parts of the County may remain unsafe.
Schools may also dismiss early to ensure buses can complete routes before conditions worsen.
Once the Superintendent makes a weather decision, several steps follow:
Impacts vary by program. Details can be viewed here and are communicated to families directly by program staff.
PGCPS communicates all school closings, delays, or early dismissals through several platforms:
All PGCPS communication channels are official and created equally. Some platforms publish updates faster than others. Social media may post first, while website updates or emails may follow shortly after.
Prince George’s County spans 500 square miles, and weather can vary sharply from one community to another. A storm may leave one area clear while creating unsafe conditions elsewhere. Because PGCPS buses travel Countywide and schools serve students and staff who commute from many neighborhoods, decisions are based on the most affected areas — even if conditions near your home seem different.
No. A/B schedules remain the same when schools close due to inclement weather.
Check directly with your school for the most accurate information about meetings, events or extracurricular activities.
Before- and after-care programs may adjust operating hours based on the weather decision. Providers share updates directly with families.
For the 2025-26 school year, PGCPS will not use virtual learning during weather events. Maryland requires at least four hours of live instruction for virtual makeup days, which is not feasible for our district. Many district staff have children at home during closures, and power outages can disrupt internet access. We also no longer have widespread hotspots and K-8 students generally do not travel back and forth from school with a Chromebook. These factors make a full day of synchronous instruction difficult to deliver during severe weather.
