A History of School Closings

The following is a summary of school closings, as well as early dismissals and late starts, at Des Moines Public Schools for weather-related reasons over the past 40 years.

2023-24

May 21, 2024: Two-Hour Early Dismissal. Schools dismissed two hours early due to forecast for severe weather, including thunderstorms and tornado warnings, in the afternoon.
January 19, 2024: Two-Hour Late Start. Classes began two hours late due to snow and extreme cold.
January 12, 2024: Classes Canceled/Offices Closed. The school district closed due to a Blizzard Warning with heavy snow and strong winds.
January 10, 2024: Two-Hour Late Start. Classes began two hours late to help with clearance of snow from previous day.
January 9, 2024: Classes Canceled/Offices Closed. The school district closed due to heavy snowfall and dangerous travel conditions.
August 24, 2023: Three-Hour Early Dismissal. Schools dismissed three hours early due to an Excessive Heat Warning.

2022-23

February 16, 2023: Schools Closed. Classes and activities canceled due to snow and wind throughout the day.
January 9-10, 2023: Schools closed. A cyber security incident took the school district’s network offline. Schools were closed, activities canceled, and most staff worked remotely during this time.

2021-22

January 14, 2022: Schools and offices closed. Winter Storm Warning with forecast for heavy snow throughout the afternoon.
January 6, 2022: Two-Hour Late Start. Late start due to cold temperatures and expected late bus routes due to staff on sick leave.
December 15, 2021: Two Hour Early Dismissal. Early dismissal due to High Wind Warning issued by the National Weather Service.

2020-21 – 4 “Virtual Snow Days”

February 15-16, 2021: “Virtual Snow Days.” Classes held online due to extremely cold temperatures and Wind Chill Warning issued by the National Weather Service.
January 26, 2021: “Virtual Snow Day.” Classes held online due to heavy snow fall.
January 15, 2021: “Virtual Snow Day.” Classes held online due to heavy snow fall.

2019-20 – School/Offices closed 1 day; 1 Early Dismissal; 1 Late Start

January 10, 2020: Two Hour Early Dismissal. Early dismissal and after school activities cancelled due to Winter Storm Warning with heavy snow and ice throughout the afternoon and evening.
January 17, 2020: Schools and Offices Closed. Due to Winter Snow Warning and heavy snowfall throughout much of the day. Downtown School only school impacted; professional development sessions cancelled and offices closed.
February 13, 2020: Two Hour Late Start. School start time delayed due to low temperatures and wind chill.

2018-19 – Schools closed 3 days; 1 Early Dismissal; 1 Late Start

January 18, 2019: Schools dismissed two hours early. Due to Winter Storm Warning. (No snow had fallen by the time of the normal dismissal but began shortly afterwards.)
January 22, 2019: Schools closed. Offices open. Forecast for ice followed by snow to begin mid-morning. (Snow began later in afternoon.)
January 23, 2019: Schools closed. Offices open. Heavy overnight snow that continued into start of school day. (Original decision was for two-hour delay but changed to cancellation.)
January 30, 2019: Schools and offices closed. Wind Chill Warning in effect from 6:00 PM on January 29 thru 9:00 AM on January 31.
January 31, 2019: Two Hour Delay. School start time delayed due to low temperatures and wind chill.

2017-18 – Schools closed 1 day

January 11, 2018: Schools closed. Offices open. Due to forecast for freezing rain and snow during morning commute and through the morning hours.

2016-17 – No School Closings

2015-16 – Schools closed 1 day

February 2, 2016: Schools closed due to blizzard-like conditions during morning commute time. Offices open, board meeting held.

2014-15 – Schools closed 1 day

January 7, 2015: Schools closed. Offices open. Due to sub-zero temperatures and wind chill approaching -40 degrees.

2013-14 – Schools closed 2 days

August 26, 2013: McKee, Scavo dismissed early. Due to heat index above 100 and no air-conditioning.
August 27, 2013: McKee, Scavo dismissed early. Due to heat index above 100 and no air-conditioning.
December 20, 2013: Start of school delayed two hours. Due to icy conditions.
January 6, 2014: Schools closed. Offices open. Due to sub-zero temperatures and wind chill approaching -50 degrees.
January 7, 2014: Start of school delayed two hours. Due to sub-zero temperatures and wind chill.
January 23, 2014: Schools closed. Offices open. Due to sub-zero temperatures and wind chill warning in effect until noon.
February 20, 2014: Schools dismissed 90 minutes early. Due to blizzard warning and forecast for afternoon/evening snow and wind.

2012-13 – Schools closed 3 days

December 20, 2012: Schools and offices closed. Due to heavy snow and high winds.
December 21, 2012: Schools closed. Offices open. Due to snow, extreme cold and power outages.
January 30, 2013: Schools closed. Offices open. Due to snow and wind.
February 21, 2013: Classes dismissed 90 minutes early, no after school programs or evening activities. Due to forecast for heavy snow.

2011-12 – No School Closings

2010-11 – Schools closed 1 day

February 1, 2011: Schools dismissed 90 minutes early and evening activities cancelled due to blizzard conditions.
February 2, 2011: Schools closed due to strong winds, blowing snow and cold temperatures. Offices open.

2009-10 – Schools closed 6 days

December 8, 2009: Schools dismissed 90 minutes early and evening activities cancelled due to snow and strong winds.
December 9, 2009: Schools closed. Offices open. Heavy snow and blizzard conditions.
December 10, 2009: Schools closed. Offices open. Heavy snow and blizzard conditions.
January 7, 2010: Schools closed. Offices open. Snow and strong winds.
January 8, 2010: Schools closed. Offices open. Snow and strong winds.
January 20, 2010: Schools and offices closed. Snow and strong winds.
January 21, 2010: Schools closed. Offices open. Snow and strong winds.

2008-09 – Schools closed 2 days

December 16, 2008: After-school and evening activities cancelled due to weather.
December 18, 2008: School dismissed 90 minutes early and evening activities cancelled based on forecast of freezing rain, sleet and snow.
December 19, 2008: School closed. Offices open. Freezing rain, sleet and snow fell overnight.
January 15, 2009: Schools closed due to extreme cold temperatures, offices open.

2007-08 – Schools closed 2 days

August 28, 2007: School dismissed 90 minutes early due to heat.
December 11, 2007: Schools closed due to icy sidewalks, parking lots, etc. & predictions of additional ice, sleet and/or snow. Offices open.
February 5, 2008: Evening activities cancelled due to snow. No early dismissal.
February 6, 2008: Schools closed due to snow. Offices open.

2006-07 – Schools closed 1 day

March 1, 2007: Schools dismissed 90 minutes early due to inclement weather moving in during the day. Rain fell until late afternoon, then changed to blowing snow. Offices closed 2 hours early.
March 2, 2007: Schools and offices closed due to blowing snow and icy streets.

2005-06 – No school closings

2004-05 — Schools closed 3 days

January 3, 2005: Schools closed due to icy roads. Offices open.
January 5, 2005: Schools closed due to snow and ice. Offices open.
January 6, 2005: Schools closed due to snow. Offices open.

2003-04 — No school closings

August 21, 2003: Schools dismissed 90 minutes early due to heat. (First day of school.)
August 25, 2003: Schools dismissed 90 minutes early due to heat.
August 26, 2003: Schools dismissed 90 minutes early due to heat.
August 28, 2003: Schools dismissed 90 minutes early due to heat.
March 15, 2004: Schools dismissed 90 minutes early due to heavy snow.

2002-03 — Schools closed 1 day

August 23, 2002: Schools closed due to strong storms in parts of the city overnight causing downed power lines, closed streets and power outages in several areas of the city.

2001-02 — No school closings.

2000-01 — Schools closed 5 days

August 31, 2000: 90-minutes early dismissal due to heat.
Sept. 1, 2000: 90-minutes early dismissal due to heat. Varsity football games postponed until after dark; junior varsity games cancelled.
Dec. 11, 2000: School closed. Offices closed at 10 a.m. as conditions worsened. Due to snow and strong winds.
Dec. 12, 2000: School originally announced as open, then closed (prior to 6 a.m.) due to extreme cold. Offices open.
Dec. 18, 2000: 2 hour early dismissal due to snow and bad weather.
January 29, 2001: Schools closed due to threat of ice storm. Offices open.
February 8, 2001: Schools closed due to ice-covered streets & walks.
February 9, 2001: Schools and offices closed due to snow and ice-covered streets, sidewalks and parking lots.
March 27, 2001: Car accident caused power failure at Callanan; school was dismissed at 1 p.m.
April 10, 2001: Power failure at Meredith and Hoover; the two schools were closed all day.

1999-00 —No school closings.

February 18, 2000: Varying predictions received on when snow would stop and additional accumulation. Schools dismissed 90 minutes early.

1998-99 — Schools closed 1 day

March 8, 1999: Schools & offices closed all day. Due to heavy snow, winds and drifting.

1997-98 — Schools closed 3 days

October 24, 1997: Mann & Jackson elementary schools closed due to power outage caused by storms.
January 21, 1998: Schools closed. Offices open. Due to heavy snow.
March 9, 1998: Schools and offices closed. Snow and blizzard conditions.
March 10, 1998: School closed. Offices open. Roadways not clear throughout the city. Very few sidewalks cleared. Ice and ruts in the snow causing traffic problems.

1996-97 — Schools closed 2 days

January 10, 1997: School closed all day. Offices open. Blowing snow and extreme temperatures.
January 16, 1997: School closed all day. Offices open. Low temperatures and wind chill.

1995-1996 — Schools closed 4 days

December 8, 1995: School dismissed 90 minutes early. Snow storm.
January 19, 1996: School closed all day. Offices open. Severe wind chill.
January 26, 1996: School closed all day. Office closed at noon. Snow, blowing snow, and severe wind chill.
January 29, 1996: School closed all day. Offices open. Low temperature and wind chill.
February 2, 1996: School closed all day. Offices open. Low temperature and wind chill.

1994-1995 — Schools closed 2 days

December 7, 1994: School closed. Offices open. Due to heavy snow.
January 27, 1995: School, school offices, and administration office closed. Ice storm and power outages in most of the city.

1993-1994 — Schools closed 2 days

January 18, 1994: School closed. School offices and administration office open. Due to low temperatures and wind chill.
February 25, 1994: School, school offices, and administration office closed. Due to drifting snow.

1992-1993 — Schools closed 1 day

January 20, 1993: School closed due to ice storm.

1991-1992 — No school closings

1990-1991 — No school closings

1989-1990 — Schools closed 3 days

December 21, 1989: School closed all day. Severe wind chill.
March 8, 1990: School closed all day. Severe ice storm.
March 9, 1990: School closed all day. Severe ice storm.

1988-1989 — No school closings

1987-1988 — No school closings

1986-1987 — No school closings

1985-1986 — Schools closed 1 day

December 2, 1985: School closed all day.

1984-1985 — No school closings

1983-1984 — No school closings

December 17, 1984: School dismissed one hour early.

1982-1983 — Schools closed 2 days

February 1, 1983: School dismissed one hour early.
February 2, 1983: School closed all day.
February 3, 1983: School closed all day.
February 4, 1983: School delayed one hour.

1981-1982 — Schools closed 2 days

January 11, 1982: School closed all day.
January 12, 1982: School delayed one hour.
January 15, 1982: School dismissed 30 minutes early.
January 22, 1982: School delayed one hour; dismissed one hour early.
March 4, 1982: School delayed one hour.

1980-1981 — Schools closed 2 days

December 8, 1980: School closed all day.
February 10, 1981: School dismissed at noon.
February 11, 1981: School closed all day.

1979-1980 — No school closings

1978-1979 — No school closings

1977-1978 — Schools closed 1 day

January 5, 1978: School closed all day.

1976-1977 — No school closings

1975-1976 — No school closings

1974-1975 — No school closings

1973-1974 — No school closings

1972-1973 — Schools closed 3 days

April 9 1973: School closed. Blizzard with large snow fall and drifting.
April 10, 1973: School closed. Blizzard with large snow fall and drifting.
April 11, 1973: School closed. Blizzard with large snow fall and drifting.