Parents and students across the Memphis area are waiting for answers as winter weather continues to disrupt the school calendar. As of the afternoon of February 4, several Memphis-area school districts have announced school closures for Thursday, February 5 due to ongoing inclement weather conditions.
With some districts approaching their ninth snow day of the school year, concerns are growing about whether schools will need to make up lost instructional time later this year.
❄️ Why Are Schools Closing Again?
Tennessee school districts build stockpile days into their academic calendars to handle unexpected closures caused by snow or severe weather. However, many districts are quickly exhausting those days.
Under Tennessee law, schools are required to:
- Be in session for 180 instructional days
- Operate for at least 6.5 hours per school day
Districts with longer school days, such as Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS), can often absorb more closures without extending the school year. If all snow days are used, districts have two options:
- Extend the school year
- Request a waiver from the Tennessee Department of Education
Waivers are only approved in cases of serious illness outbreaks or natural disasters, not routine winter weather.
🏫 Memphis-Area School Closures for Thursday, Feb. 5
Here’s the latest list of announced closures as of 4:00 p.m. CT on Feb. 4:
❌ Schools Closed Feb. 5
- Arlington Community Schools
- Bartlett City Schools
- Collierville Schools
- Germantown Municipal School District
- Lakeland Schools
- Memphis-Shelby County Schools
- Millington Municipal Schools
✅ Schools Still Open (As of Feb. 4, 3:00 p.m.)
- DeSoto County Schools
(No closure announced yet)
DeSoto County Schools has stated that students will attend school on President’s Day to make up for weather-related closures earlier this year.
📅 Will Students Have to Make Up Snow Days?
Some districts are nearing the limit of allowable snow days. If closures continue:
- School years may be extended
- Or districts may apply for state waivers
- Extra instructional time could be added to existing school days
Officials emphasize that any waiver request must meet strict state requirements and cannot be approved for standard winter weather alone.
🔔 What Parents Should Do Next
- Check your school district’s official website or social media
- Watch for automated calls, texts, or emails
- Monitor local weather updates overnight
- Prepare for possible schedule changes
This story will continue to be updated as more districts announce their winter weather plans.
🧾 Quick Summary Table
| School District | Feb. 5 Status |
|---|---|
| Arlington Community Schools | Closed |
| Bartlett City Schools | Closed |
| Collierville Schools | Closed |
| Germantown MSD | Closed |
| Lakeland Schools | Closed |
| Memphis-Shelby County Schools | Closed |
| Millington Municipal Schools | Closed |
| DeSoto County Schools | Open (as of update) |
