Prince George’s County School Closings Today — Live Status & Delays (Maryland)

Are Prince George’s County schools closed today? Check live status below — updated every 10 minutes.

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Please enable JavaScript in your browser, then reload this page to see current closure and delay information for Prince George's County Public Schools and surrounding districts. In the meantime, check directly: PGCPS Emergency Notifications (pgcps.org), NBC4 Washington WRC, or FOX 5 DC WTTG.

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Live status monitored for Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS).

How Prince George’s County Schools Announce Closings and Delays

When inclement weather or an emergency requires a closure or delayed opening, the Superintendent of Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) typically makes the decision before 5:00 AM. The announcement is then pushed simultaneously across multiple channels so families can plan before the morning commute. PGCPS issues notifications through its official website at pgcps.org, the SchoolMessenger text and email alert system, and the ParentVUE portal — which enrolled families should keep updated with current contact information to ensure they receive timely alerts.

Local television coverage is a primary source for Prince George’s County school closing information. NBC4 Washington (WRC, Channel 4) broadcasts a continuous closing crawl during its early morning News4 Today program starting at 4:00 AM, and maintains a live searchable database at nbcwashington.com/weather/school-closings/. FOX 5 DC (WTTG, Channel 5) tracks closings at fox5dc.com/closings, and WUSA9 (CBS, Channel 9) posts updates at wusa9.com/closings. All three stations receive notifications directly from the district’s communications office, which aims to contact media outlets in time for the 5–6 AM broadcasts. PGCPS also uses a system of Emergency Weather Codes broadcast over local radio stations so parents without internet access can still receive timely information.

Weather Risks That Can Cause Prince George’s County School Closings

Winter snowstorms and ice accumulation. The most common trigger for PGCPS closures. Even a thin layer of ice on county roads, bus lot driveways, and school parking areas can create dangerous conditions. Because the county spans more than 500 square miles of urban, suburban, and rural terrain, conditions can vary significantly from one area to another, and the superintendent typically opts for a districtwide decision.
Freezing rain and black ice. Freezing rain events — common in the Mid-Atlantic from November through March — can appear deceptively minor but coat road surfaces with nearly invisible ice. PGCPS transportation supervisors survey roads beginning in the early morning hours to assess conditions before any decision is made.
Extreme cold and dangerous wind chills. Prolonged below-zero wind chills can create health hazards for students waiting at bus stops, particularly for younger children. The district monitors wind chill advisories issued by the National Weather Service for Prince George’s County (MDZ013).
Heavy snow accumulation and blizzard conditions. Major Nor’easters and winter storms can deposit significant snowfall on the Washington, DC metro area, requiring full closures for multiple consecutive days to allow road clearing and safe bus lot access.
Severe thunderstorms and flash flooding. During spring and summer, severe thunderstorm lines can move through the DC metro area rapidly. Flash flood warnings, particularly along the Patuxent and Potomac River drainages that run through the county, can affect bus routes and school access roads.
Extreme heat advisories. A growing concern, extreme heat combined with high humidity can make non-air-conditioned school facilities unsafe. PGCPS monitors National Weather Service excessive heat warnings and may issue early dismissals or closures when heat indices become dangerous.
High winds and downed power lines. Strong wind events associated with coastal storms and derecho-type squall lines can knock out power to schools and block roads with fallen trees, particularly in the wooded rural communities in the southern and eastern portions of the county.

Frequently Asked Questions — Prince George’s County School Closings

How early does PGCPS announce school closures?

Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) aims to announce school closures and delays before 5:00 AM on the day of the closure. The Superintendent typically makes the call in the early morning hours after reviewing road surveys conducted by PGCPS transportation supervisors, National Weather Service data, and conditions reported by neighboring school districts. The goal is for announcements to reach local TV and radio stations in time for early morning broadcasts that begin between 5 and 6 AM, giving families maximum lead time to arrange childcare and adjust commute plans.

What is the difference between a PGCPS school closure and a delayed opening?

PGCPS uses a system of Emergency Weather Codes to communicate the type and scope of a schedule change. A full closure (Code Red or similar) means no in-person instruction for the day. A delayed opening — typically two hours — means schools open later than normal to allow road crews more time to clear routes; PGCPS announces these as a “two-hour delay” or “Code Orange.” During a two-hour delay, all half-day programs and transportation for programs that require pick-up before 12 noon are typically cancelled. An early dismissal means students are sent home earlier than the standard bell time due to developing weather conditions. Always check the official PGCPS emergency notifications page for the exact code in effect.

Do all Prince George’s County schools close at the same time?

In almost all weather-related situations, PGCPS issues a districtwide decision that applies to all 201 schools simultaneously. Because the district operates more than 1,300 buses across a 500-square-mile area, a single countywide call is necessary for logistical consistency. However, in rare circumstances — such as a localized power outage or a facility emergency — individual schools may close or dismiss early while the rest of the district remains open. The official PGCPS emergency notifications page at pgcps.org and the SchoolMessenger alert system are the authoritative sources for any school-specific changes.

Which local TV stations report Prince George’s County school closings?

The three primary Washington DC-area TV stations that report Prince George’s County school closings are NBC4 Washington (WRC, Channel 4) at nbcwashington.com/weather/school-closings/, FOX 5 DC (WTTG, Channel 5) at fox5dc.com/closings, and WUSA9 (CBS, Channel 9) at wusa9.com/closings. NBC4’s News4 Today program broadcasts a continuous closure crawl starting at 4 AM. All three stations receive notifications directly from PGCPS. This page monitors all three TV sources alongside the official district website so you get the fastest available closure detection without having to visit multiple sources.

How often is this page updated?

This page checks for new closure and delay information automatically every 15 minutes under normal conditions, and every 5 minutes during active weather alerts affecting Prince George’s County. Status data is pulled from the official PGCPS website, local TV station closure lists, and National Weather Service alerts in real time. During winter storm events, the refresh cadence increases automatically in the background so you always see the most current information without having to reload the page.

Does PGCPS have inclement weather make-up days built into the school calendar?

Yes. The PGCPS school year calendar includes built-in inclement weather make-up days, typically scheduled in June. The number of days used determines the final last day of school for students and staff. For the 2024–2025 school year, up to three built-in make-up days were available at the end of the calendar, with two additional days in February and March that could be converted to make-up days if needed. Families should check the official PGCPS calendar at pgcps.org for the current year’s specific make-up day provisions.