School Closings and Weather-Related Schedule Changes

The decision to cancel or delay school is always made with safety as the top priority. When severe weather approaches, the Superintendent closely monitors evolving conditions to track the storm.

By 5 a.m., the Superintendent must make a determination so families and staff can be notified. Key considerations include weather forecasts, highway department reports, temperature and windchill, and real-time assessments from District drivers who evaluate early-morning road conditions.

Even if neighborhood streets appear clear, the Superintendent must also consider regional travel conditions, which can affect staff members’ ability to arrive at work safely. While the decision to cancel school is never easy, it is always made with the safety of students and staff in mind.

The District will notify families and staff through SchoolMessenger (phone and email) once a decision has been made. Updates will also be shared via:

• District Website: claytonschools.net
• Social Media:
  • Facebook: @claytonschools
  • Instagram: @claytonschooldistrict
  • Local media (KTVI Channel 2, KMOV Channel 4 and KSDK Channel 5)

One option for addressing inclement weather is opening on a snow schedule. If the weather or the roads are not severe enough to warrant cancelation, but problematic enough to cause delays, this option will give students and staff additional time to get to school without having to use a full snow day. All schools will start one hour late, on the following schedule: 

If a Snow Schedule is announced:

• All schools will start one hour later than usual.
• Dismissal times remain the same.
• Voluntary transfer students and Meramec bus riders should go to their regular stop one hour later than normal.
• All before-school activities, programs, meetings and sports practices are canceled.
• There is no Kid Zone (before-school childcare) at the Family Center or the District's three elementary schools.
• There are no zero-hour classes at Clayton High School.
• All staff may delay the time they report to work by up to one hour to allow for weather-related travel conditions.
• All after-school childcare, meetings, programs, sports practices and activities will proceed as scheduled unless additional inclement weather causes the District to cancel after-school and evening activities/programs at some point during the day.

If weather conditions worsen during the day, the District may cancel after-school and evening activities to ensure students and staff can return home safely. These decisions are usually made by 2 or 2:30 p.m. and communicated via SchoolMessenger.

This includes the cancelation of:

• All school-sponsored meetings, clubs, activities, athletic practices and games
• District meetings or events
• Kid Zone after-care, which will close early. Families will be notified of the specific closing time.

The state tracks lost instructional time due to inclement weather (snow days) in hours. The District's 2025-26 calendar includes (in hours) the equivalent of eight snow days. 

Should the need arise, the District can also implement the approved Alternative Methods of Instruction (AMI) Plan, which allows for remote learning. The Superintendent will make a determination when the District will use AMI days.