As thousands of students in Philadelphia returned to school on Monday, many of them will have shorter days on their second and third days due to the extreme heat. The School District of Philadelphia announced early dismissals of three hours at 63 schools without proper air conditioning on Tuesday and Wednesday, while other schools will operate on a regular schedule.
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The decision for early dismissals is made when temperatures are expected to reach 85 degrees or higher by noon. According to the National Weather Service, temperatures are forecasted to reach as high as 90 and 96 degrees on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The list of impacted schools includes:
- Abram Jenks School
- A.L. Fitzpatrick School
- Alexander K. McClure School
- AMY Northwest
- Anna L. Lingelbach School
- Bache-Martin School
- Benjamin B. Comegys Elementary School
- Benjamin Franklin High School
- Bridesburg Annex
- Building 21
- Castor Gardens Middle School
- Charles W. Henry School
- D. Newlin Fell School
- Eliza B. Kirkbride School
- Eleanor C. Emlen School
- Ellwood School
- Fox Chase School
- Francis Hopkinson School
- George W. Nebinger School
- George Sharswood School
- Gilbert Spruance School
- Hamilton Disston School
- Henry H. Houston School
- Hill-Freedman World Academy
- Isaac A. Sheppard School
- J. Hampton Moore School
- James G. Blaine School
- James R. Ludlow School
- James J. Sullivan School
- John F. McCloskey School
- John M. Patterson School
- John S. Jenks School
- Joseph W. Catharine School
- Julia Ward Howe School
- Kennedy C. Crossan School
- Marian Anderson Neighborhood Academy
- Morton McMichael School
- MYA
- OEC Annex
- Olney Elementary
- Overbrook Elementary School
- Parkway West
- Paul L. Dunbar School
- Rhawnhurst
- Robert E. Lamberton Elementary School
- Roosevelt Elementary School
- Roxborough High School
- SLA
- South Philadelphia High School
- Spring Garden School
- Stephen Girard Elementary School
- Tilden Middle School
- The U School
- Warren Harding Middle School
- Watson Comly School
- Weir Mitchell Elementary School
- William H. Loesche School
- William M. Meredith School
- William Rowen School
- William L. Sayre High School
For the past two years, the school district has had early dismissals during the first week of classes as they continue to upgrade cooling systems in many school buildings. The number of impacted schools is decreasing, a positive sign of progress. While 100 schools had early closures in 2022, that number dropped to 86 last year. Additionally, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts made a donation of $200,000 this spring to support the upgrading efforts, which will benefit 10 city schools.