Are Schools Closed in Atlanta? How to Check Closures Today

If you’re in Atlanta and wondering “Are schools closed today?”, the answer depends on which school system you’re asking about and why they might be closing (weather, emergencies, holidays, or breaks).

Atlanta doesn’t have one single school district—multiple public school systems and many private schools serve the metro area—so it’s important to know where your student is enrolled and how that system announces closures.

The Short Answer: It Depends on Your School System

On any given day, some schools in Atlanta may be open while others are closed. When people ask “Are schools closed in Atlanta?” they’re usually thinking about one of these main public systems:

To know if your school is closed, start with the district or school’s official channels:

• District website or mobile app
• Official robocall, text, or email alerts
• Local TV and radio announcements
• Social media pages run by the district or school

When Do Atlanta Schools Close?

1. Weather-Related School Closures

Atlanta schools most commonly close for:

• Ice and snow (even relatively small amounts)
• Severe thunderstorms with dangerous conditions
• Tornado threats or damage
• Extreme cold that could affect buses and building operations

School leaders in metro Atlanta typically:

• Monitor forecasts from National Weather Service Atlanta
• Coordinate with city and county emergency management
• Consider road conditions, especially for buses and side streets
• Decide whether to close fully, delay opening, or dismiss early

Important: Neighboring districts often try to be consistent, but they do not always make the same decision. Atlanta Public Schools might close while some surrounding counties open on a delay, or vice versa.

2. Emergency or Safety-Related Closures

Besides weather, schools may close due to:

• Power outages or water issues at specific schools
• Building problems, such as heating, air conditioning, or structural concerns
• Safety or security incidents in the area
• Public health concerns, which may affect single schools or entire districts

These closures can be:

• System-wide (all schools in the district)
• Cluster-specific (a group of schools in a certain area)
• School-specific (only one building is affected)

Families are usually notified by:

• Automated phone calls
• Text messages
• Emails
• Website banners and local news alerts

3. Planned Closures: Holidays and Breaks

Even when there’s no weather or emergency, schools close for regularly scheduled breaks:

• Federal and state holidays (e.g., Labor Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day)
• Thanksgiving break
• Winter break (around late December–early January)
• Spring break (varies by district, usually March or April)
• Teacher workdays and professional learning days
• Summer break

Each district in the Atlanta area maintains its own academic calendar, which is the best reference for planned days off.

How to Check If Atlanta Public Schools (APS) Are Closed

If your student is in the City of Atlanta, you’re likely dealing with Atlanta Public Schools (APS).

Ways APS usually announces closures:

• APS website – System-wide alerts and updates on the homepage
• Phone, text, and email – Sent to contact information on file
• Local TV news – Atlanta stations typically list APS closure status
• Social media – Official APS Facebook and X (Twitter) accounts

For general assistance, APS central administration is headquartered at:

Atlanta Public Schools District Office
130 Trinity Ave SW
Atlanta, GA 30303
Main phone (commonly listed): (404) 802-3500

If you’ve just moved and aren’t sure where your address falls, APS and Fulton/DeKalb boundaries can be confusing. Checking your enrollment documents or the school’s own site is often the quickest way to know which system you’re in.

Checking Closures in Other Atlanta-Area School Districts

Many people living “in Atlanta” are actually zoned for county school systems. Here’s how closure checks usually work for major nearby districts:

Fulton County Schools

Covers much of north and south Fulton County, including areas like Sandy Springs and South Fulton outside the APS zone.

• Uses district website alerts and a mass notification system
• Posts to local news outlets and social media

Main district office (for reference):

Fulton County Schools
6201 Powers Ferry Rd NW
Atlanta, GA 30339
Phone (commonly listed): (470) 254-3600

DeKalb County School District

Serves large portions of eastern and southeastern metro Atlanta, including some addresses that may list “Atlanta” but are outside APS.

• Announces closures via website, text/phone/email alerts, and local media

Central office location:

DeKalb County School District
1701 Mountain Industrial Blvd
Stone Mountain, GA 30083
Main line (commonly listed): (678) 676-1200

Other Large Metro Atlanta Districts

If you live near the city limits, you might also be in:

• Cobb County School District
• Clayton County Public Schools
• Gwinnett County Public Schools

These districts follow similar patterns: website updates, automated notifications, and TV/radio announcements. If your mailing address says “Atlanta” but you’re unsure of your district, you can usually:

• Look at your student’s report card or enrollment letter
• Call the front office of your child’s school
• Ask your apartment/HOA office which district serves your address

What About Private, Charter, and Independent Schools in Atlanta?

Atlanta has many charter schools, private schools, and independent schools, and their closure decisions may or may not match local public systems.

Common patterns:

• Some charter schools follow their authorizing district’s decision (for example, APS-authorized charters often follow APS).
• Many private schools choose independently, although they may mirror nearby public systems for weather events.
• Each school usually uses its own mix of emails, texts, school apps, and website notices.

If your child attends a non-traditional or specialized program (magnet, charter, private academy, religious school), do not assume it’s closed just because APS or Fulton is closed. Always:

• Check the school’s own website
• Read direct emails or app notifications from the school
• Call the school office if there’s any doubt

Typical Ways Atlanta Families Get Closure Information

Most families in Atlanta rely on a combination of:

• District or school websites
• Robocalls and text messages to parents/guardians
• Email alerts
• Local TV news, especially early morning during storms
• Radio stations that list closures and delays
• Official district or school social media accounts

Many Atlanta-area parents also sign up for district mobile apps that send push notifications for closures and emergencies.

Quick Checklist: How to Know if Schools Are Closed Today in Atlanta

Use this step-by-step approach:

1. Confirm your district or school
   • Is it Atlanta Public Schools, Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, Clayton, Gwinnett, a charter, or a private school?
2. Check official channels first
   • District or school homepage
   • Text, phone, or email messages from the school system
3. Look at local news
   • Morning and evening newscasts often scroll closure lists across the screen.
4. Verify for your specific school
   • Especially if you’re in a charter or private school, confirm directly with that school.
5. Plan for delays and early dismissals
   • Sometimes schools aren’t fully closed but run on a two-hour delay or dismiss early due to weather.

If You Just Moved to Atlanta: Setting Yourself Up for Updates

If you’re new to the city or metro area and want to avoid last-minute surprises:

• 📝 Update your contact info at your child’s school so you receive robocalls, texts, and emails.
• 📅 Download your district’s academic calendar to know planned holidays and breaks.
• 📲 Install your district’s mobile app if one is offered.
• 📺 Learn a couple of local TV news stations that you can quickly check on severe weather mornings.
• ☎️ Save your school’s main office number in your phone for quick questions.

In Atlanta, schools are not all on the same system, so there’s no single yes-or-no answer to “Are schools closed in Atlanta?” The most reliable way to know is to identify your specific district or school and follow its official announcements on weather days, emergencies, and holidays.