Back to class for some North Texas students as others remain closed after winter storm

For the first time this week, several North Texas school districts are opening their doors Friday morning as communities continue to recover from a late-January winter storm.
For the first time this week, several North Texas school districts are opening their doors Friday morning as communities continue to recover from a late-January winter storm. Photo credit Joe Kelley

For the first time this week, several North Texas school districts are opening their doors Friday morning as communities continue to recover from a late-January winter storm.

Students and staff in Arlington ISD, Fort Worth ISD and Grapevine-Colleyville ISD are scheduled to return to classrooms today, while other districts — including Dallas, Allen, Denton, Frisco, Keller, Lewisville, McKinney and Plano — remain closed due to lingering icy conditions on roads and campuses.

The closures and reopenings come after an arctic cold front brought ice, sleet and snow to the Dallas-Fort Worth area earlier this week, prompting widespread cancellations and safety precautions across the region. As temperatures slowly climb and road crews work to clear secondary streets, some districts deemed conditions safe enough to resume in-person learning. Others cited continue hazards — especially on less-treated rural and residential roads — as the reason for extended closures.

Superintendents and transportation officials have said the safety of students and staff is the top priority in making decisions about reopening. Many districts that will remain closed today are expected to reassess conditions later in the day and communicate any changes to families by early afternoon. Bus routes, sidewalks and parking lots in colder pockets of the region have been slow to thaw, complicating return-to-school plans.

OPEN

Arlington ISD

Birdville ISD

Carroll ISD

Corsicana ISD

DeSoto ISD

Ennis ISD

Fort Worth ISD

Grapevine-Colleyville ISD

Lake Worth ISD

Lancaster ISD

SMU

CLOSED

Allen ISD

Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD

Dallas ISD

Denton ISD

Farmersville ISD

Frisco ISD

Keller ISD

Lewisville ISD

Little Elm ISD

McKinney ISD

Northwest ISD

Plano ISD

Sherman ISD

Families in both open and closed districts are adjusting plans, with working parents juggling childcare alternatives in areas where schools remain shut. Traffic officials remind drivers to continue to exercise caution, even where snow has melted, as residual ice can persist in shaded areas, overpasses and on untreated secondary roadways.

School closures this week have affected everything from extracurricular activities to childcare arrangements, with many districts also postponing athletic events and practices. District communications emphasize monitoring official channels — including websites and social media — for the latest updates throughout the day.

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Featured Image Photo Credit: Joe Kelley