News Summary
In anticipation of a severe weather threat, several school districts in Central Texas are adjusting their schedules. Many districts are dismissing students early and canceling after-school activities to ensure safety. Meteorologists predict severe storms, including large hail and potential tornadoes, could impact the region. Parents are encouraged to pick up their children early and stay informed on weather updates as schools prioritize student safety amidst the impending storms.
Central Texas school districts are adjusting their schedules in response to a looming severe weather threat expected on Friday, May 2. The severe weather risk is anticipated to occur from approximately 3 p.m. to midnight, creating potential hazards that include large hail, strong winds, and the possibility of isolated tornadoes.
In preparation for these adverse conditions, multiple local school districts are implementing early dismissals and canceling after-school activities. The following details outline the changes being made by various Central Texas school districts:
Austin Independent School District (ISD) has announced the cancellation of all after-school activities districtwide. This includes athletics and after-school care programs, ensuring safety during the expected storm period.
Del Valle ISD will dismiss all elementary after-school programs by 3 p.m., urging parents of students in the ACE program to pick them up immediately to avoid inclement weather.
Florence ISD plans to adhere to its regular dismissal times but allows parents the option to pick up their children early if they feel it is unsafe for them to remain at school during the severe weather.
Georgetown ISD has implemented a modified early release schedule, with high schools dismissing at 1:45 p.m., middle schools at 2:10 p.m., and elementary schools at 3 p.m. This allows students to reach safety before the severe weather impacts the area.
Granger ISD has taken the precautionary step of canceling Friday’s baseball playoff series due to the impending weather conditions.
Hutto ISD is also dismissing all campuses early, with elementary schools letting out at 1:30 p.m., middle schools at 2:20 p.m., and high schools at 3 p.m. All after-school activities in this district have been canceled. Additionally, Hutto ISD school buses will run approximately 1.5 hours earlier than usual, and parents are encouraged to pick up students at their earliest convenience.
Leander ISD has canceled all after-school activities scheduled after 4:30 p.m., though regular dismissal times will proceed as planned.
Liberty Hill ISD will cancel all outdoor after-school activities but continue with regular dismissal schedules, allowing for some indoor activities to occur as planned.
Round Rock ISD has canceled all after-school activities, including fine arts practices, while maintaining regular dismissal times for students.
Taylor ISD will dismiss all schools early, with elementary schools letting out at 1:30 p.m., middle schools at 2:15 p.m., and high schools at 2:30 p.m. All after-school programs in this district have also been canceled.
All districts are urging parents to stay informed about the weather situation and to pick up their children early, if possible, to ensure their safety during the expected storms. Meteorologists are predicting widespread storms to begin increasing in severity between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., raising concerns for flash flooding across the region.
As the situation evolves, all school districts are closely monitoring the weather conditions and will provide ongoing updates to parents and the community. Safety remains the top priority for educational institutions and families alike as Central Texas faces these severe weather challenges.
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Additional Resources
- KVUE: Hutto Schools Early Dismissal Due to Weather
- CBS Austin: Central Texas Schools Early Dismissals
- Statesman: Central Texas School Districts Early Release
- KXAN: School Closures May 2, 2025
- KXAN: Storms Drop Large Hail in Central Texas
- Wikipedia: Severe Weather
- Google Search: Severe Weather Impact on Schools
- Google Scholar: Severe Weather Education
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Severe Weather
- Google News: Central Texas School Closings
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The AUSTIN STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREAustinTX.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Austin, Travis County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as SXSW, Austin City Limits Music Festival, Formula 1 United States Grand Prix, and the Austin Film Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce and Visit Austin, plus leading businesses in technology, automotive, and retail that power the local economy such as Dell Technologies, Tesla, and Apple. As part of the broader HERE network, including HERECollegeStation.com, HEREDallas.com, HEREHouston.com, and HERESanAntonio.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Texas's dynamic landscape.
