COLUMBIA, S.C. — Although the latest weather models are still forecasting snow Tuesday night across the Midlands, the potential for heavy snowfall accumulation is beginning to diminish. Still, models are ranging from a dusting of snow to a little more.
Anyone venturing out this week should bundle up as daytime highs will be in the upper 30s to low 40s and nighttime lows in the teens or low 20s. At this time, there are no winter storm watches or warnings in effect for the Midlands.
That in mind, some area school districts, in an abundance of caution and for the safety of students and district personnel, are announcing early dismissals for Tuesday and late starts for Wednesday this week.
Calhoun County
Calhoun County Public schools will dismiss early on Tueseday, January 21, 2025.
- Sandy Run and St. Matthews K-8 Schools will dismiss at 11 a.m.
- Calhoun County High School will dismiss at 11:15 a.m.
Clarendon County
In light of the forecasted inclement winter weather, Clarendon County School District is implementing the following schedule adjustments to ensure the safety of students and staff:
Tuesday early dismissals:
- Walker Gamble Elementary, Manning Early Childhood Center, Dr. Rose H Wilder Elementary, F.E. DuBose Career Center: 11 a.m.
- Manning Elementary, 11:10 a.m.
- East Clarendon Middle/High, Scott's Branch Middle/High, 11:20 a.m.
- Manning Junior High, 11:30 a.m.
- Manning High. 11:45 a.m.
Wednesday, students transition to e-Learning. Students will find their assignments on Google Classroom and/or Rooms. They are expected to follow the District’s e-Learning Expectations linked here.
Please note that all after-school activities have been canceled.
Clarendon County School District Administration will keep families updated about school operations for Thursday, January 23rd, through the district's usual communication channels, including the district app, email, social media, and our website.
Kershaw County
KCSD announces early dismissal for Tuesday, January 21, and 2-hour delay for Wednesday, January 22.
On Tuesday, January 21:
- Elementary schools will dismiss at 11:30 a.m.
- Middle schools at 11:45 a.m.
- High schools at noon
Breakfast and lunch will be served. The district office will close at 2:30 p.m.
Students in half day preschool special needs programs will not attend school on Tuesday. Morning Woolard Technology Center and morning adult education students will attend class and dismiss at their regular times.
All KCSD child care programs, extracurricular and after-school activities — including sports practices and games — are also canceled for Tuesday, as well as after school and evening district meetings.
On Wednesday, January 22, KCSD schools and offices will be opening on a two-hour delay. This means school start times are two hours later than normal. School bus riders should report to their bus stops two hours later than their usual times.
Students in half day preschool special needs programs will not attend school on Wednesday, January 22. Morning Woolard Technology Center students will attend classes on a two-hour delay. The Woolard Technology Center Child Development Center will operate on a two-hour delay.
Breakfast and lunch will be served on Wednesday.
The delay on Wednesday gives district and transportation officials time to assess schools and road conditions before buses start running their morning routes.
The weather is unpredictable and the impact of the winter weather is unknown. Depending on the impact, the district may need to change plans early Wednesday morning. Administration will notify employees and families of any changes as quickly as possible.
Any further updates will be posted on the district and school websites and social media, as well as reported to local news stations. Parents and employees will also receive messages from the district's mass notification system.
Lee County
Due to impending inclement weather, our district will dismiss early Tuesday, January 21, 2025. Elementary schools will dismiss at 11:30 a.m., and middle and high schools will dismiss at 12:00 noon.
Lexington One
All Lexington One schools will operate on a half-day schedule on Tuesday, January 21, 2025.
- Pre-school half-day classes, both morning and afternoon sessions — Canceled
- Elementary Schools (including full-day preschool classes) — 11:20 a.m.
- Middle Schools, except Gilbert Middle, -- 12:05 p.m.
- Gilbert Middle School -- 12:15 p.m.
- Lexington, White Knoll and Red Bank high schools -- 12:45 p.m.
- Pelion and Gilbert high schools -- 12:25 p..m.
- High school students who attend Lexington Technology Center, The College Center or Advanced Center of Study should follow their Collaborative Planning Day schedule as provided by their school
Breakfast and lunch will be served on half-days.
All afterschool activities and childcare is canceled on Tuesday.
Lexington One administrators are waiting until Tuesday to make a decision about Wednesday. This gives the district the ability to receive additional forecasts that may have less uncertainty in the snowfall totals and black ice on roadways predicted for the area.
Lexington Two
Lexington Two schools and offices will dismiss early on Tuesday, January 21, due to forecasts of potential wintry weather beginning late Tuesday afternoon.
Tuesday’s early dismissal times are:
- Elementary schools. 11:30 a.m.
- Middle and high schools, 12:30 p.m.
All after-school activities/programs are canceled, including athletic events and practices, extracurricular activities, after-school programs, Boys and Girls Clubs, and adult education classes. Coaches and schools will reach out directly to families and athletes regarding the status of any previously scheduled Tuesday events.
With the past couple of days bringing forecasts of a diminished snow impact in our immediate area, Lexington Two administration will spend the remainder of today and Tuesday morning gathering more information and talking with weather officials as they consider the school day schedule for Wednesday, January 22. Should any further schedule changes become necessary for that day, Lexington Two will communicate them to families and staff through district communications channels, as well as through websites, social media, and traditional media.
Lexington Three
Lexington Three announces that Tuesday, January 21st will be a half day (please see amended release schedule below) for all students and staff in the district and Wednesday, January 22nd will be an eLearning Day.
On Tuesday, January 21st, Lexington Three will dismiss schools using the following amended schedule:
- B-L Primary School will dismiss at 10:30 am.
- B-L Elementary School will dismiss at 10:45 am.
- B-L Middle School will dismiss at 11:15 am.
- B-L High School will dismiss at 11:30 am.
Lexington Four
A chance for winter weather exists for tomorrow afternoon. To provide time for buses, students, and staff to safely complete their afternoon travel before the arrival of winter weather, Lexington Four schools will follow the normal half-day schedule listed below for Tuesday.
Breakfast and lunch will be served. All after-school activities, daycare, and athletics are canceled for tomorrow.
Half-Day Schedule
- Early Childhood Center - 11:00 a.m.
- Sandhills Primary/Elementary - 11:20 a.m.
- Frances Mack Intermediate - 12:20 PM
- Sandhills Middle School - 11:30 a.m.
- Swansea High Freshman Academy - 12:15 p.m.
- Swansea High - 12:30 p.m.
Lexington-Richland Five
School District Five of Lexington & Richland Counties will operate on an early release schedule on Tuesday, January 21, 2025. School District Five schools, including the virtual FIVE program, will dismiss as follows on Tuesday:
- All Intermediate Schools release at 10:30 a.m.
- All Elementary Schools release at 10:40 a.m.
- Academy for Success release at 11:20 a.m.
- All Middle Schools release at 11:35 a.m.
- Spring Hill High School releases at 11:40 a.m.
- All Other High Schools release at 11:55 a.m.
Students in half-day preschool programs will not meet. Students with morning classes at the Center for Advanced Technical Studies will remain at their home schools for online instruction from their teachers. Afternoon classes at The Center and adult education will not meet.
Lunch will be provided to students at school.
All after school childcare programs and extracurricular events are canceled on Tuesday. Individual coaches and sponsors will contact their teams and groups regarding rescheduling.
For any additional delays regarding school bus drop off, parents will be notified by the school district’s automated telephone system.
The district is continuing to monitor the weather forecasts for Wednesday, January 22, 2025, and will provide updates as soon as possible.
Newberry County
Due to the threat of winter weather and the resulting hazardous road conditions, the School District of Newberry County will have an early release day on Tuesday, January 21, 2025.
Dismissal times are:
- Reuben, Gallman, Newberry Elementary, and Boundary Street: 12:15 p.m.
- Newberry Middle: 12:45 p.m.
- Newberry High: 1:00 p.m.
- Whitmire Community School: 1:00 p.m.
- Mid-Carolina Middle and High: 1:00 p.m.
- Little Mountain, Prosperity-Rikard, and Pomaria-Garmany: 12:40 p.m.
- Newberry Alternative School: 12:05 p.m.
- Career Center: Mid-Carolina High and Whitmire Community School Students -12:30 p.m.
- Newberry High Students -12:50 p.m.
Students will be served both breakfast and lunch prior to dismissal.
All after school events are canceled. Canceled activities include all athletic games and practices, after school care, meetings, programs, and all other activities and events.
Newberry County will also have a 2-hour delay on Wednesday, January 22, 2025. Buses will operate 2 hours later and schools will open 2 hours later than normal.
Orangeburg County
To ensure the safety of our students, staff, and families, Orangeburg County schools will operate on an early dismissal schedule on Tuesday, January 21, 2025:
- Elementary schools, 11 a.m.
- Middle/High schools, 11:30 a.m.
- High schools, 12 p.m.
All athletic events and extracurricular activities scheduled are postponed until further notice.
We will continue to monitor conditions later in the week and provide updates through District callouts, text messages, our website, and social media platforms.
Richland One
Due to the possibility of inclement weather starting late-afternoon, Richland One schools will dismiss students early Tuesday (January 21, 2025).
- Elementary schools will dismiss students at 11 a.m.
- High schools will dismiss students at 11:45 a.m.
- Middle schools will dismiss students at 12:30 p.m.
Students will be served breakfast and lunch before they are dismissed.
Afterschool programs, activities and events scheduled for Tuesday, including athletics games and practices, are canceled.
District leaders will continue to monitor and assess weather and road conditions. The decision about Wednesday’s schedule and any other weather-related schedule changes will be announced to students, staff, parents and the news media through the district’s communications platforms, including the Richland One website (www.RichlandOne.org); social media (Facebook, Instagram and X); R1TV (Spectrum cable channel 1303); the Richland One mobile app; and Richland One InfoPhone (803-231-7512).
Richland Two
Based on the current forecast calling for the potential of winter weather that may impact travel conditions, Richland School District Two will dismiss early tomorrow Tuesday, January, 21, 2025.
Schools will dismiss students at the following times:
- 11 a.m. elementary schools
- 11:45 a.m. middle schools
- 12:30 p.m. high schools
All school buildings and district facilities will close early, and all after-school activities, after-care programs, athletic/fine arts and other extracurricular activities, events and programs, adult education classes, etc. will be canceled.
Sumter School District
Due to the strong possibility of inclement weather late Tuesday afternoon that could result in unsafe road conditions, schools will dismiss early on Tuesday, January 21.
- Elementary schools will dismiss at 11 a.m.
- Middle schools will dismiss at 11:30 a.m.
- High schools will dismiss at 12:30 p.m.
All after-school activities are canceled. We will make a decision by noon on Tuesday regarding the status of school on Wednesday.
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