News Summary
Denver Public Schools have decided to cancel classes at 13 schools amid a forecast of extreme heat, with temperatures expected to reach nearly 99 degrees. Schools like Skinner Middle School and Johnson Elementary will dismiss students early, while providing lunch before departure. This closure reflects ongoing challenges with inadequate air conditioning in district schools. Despite recent investments to improve cooling systems, some schools remain without air conditioning, prompting community concerns regarding student comfort and safety during hot weather.
Denver – Denver Public Schools (DPS) has announced the cancellation of classes for 13 schools due to a forecast of extreme heat on August 21, 2025. The National Weather Service predicts temperatures in the Denver area will reach nearly 99 degrees, prompting the district to take precautionary measures to protect students and staff from the unrelenting heat.
The schools affected by the closures include Skinner Middle School, Johnson Elementary, and Bryant Webster ECE-8. While these schools will be closed for the day, both Johnson Elementary and Bryant Webster will conduct early dismissals before the school day typically concludes. Johnson Elementary will let students out at 12:30 PM, while Bryant Webster will release students at 12:20 PM. To ensure students are fed before leaving, both schools plan to provide lunch prior to dismissal.
Transportation will remain operational, with bus services continuing along normal routes and adhering to the adjusted dismissal times for those schools releasing students early. However, all Little Links and Discovery Link programming at the affected schools will be canceled for the day.
A spokesperson for DPS acknowledged the difficulties that sudden closures can pose for families, explaining that notifications about heat-related school closures or early dismissals are sent directly to families by 5 PM the evening before the announcements are made. This serves to offer parents time to adjust their plans accordingly when closures are deemed necessary.
This decision to close schools highlights the ongoing challenge of addressing high temperatures in district schools, many of which lack adequate air conditioning. Denver Public Schools has initiated efforts to alleviate these issues; in the past year, the district passed a nearly $1 billion bond, allocating approximately $240 million toward the improvement of air conditioning systems in schools. Despite these investments, there are still 27 schools within the district that require installations of air conditioning.
As of now, two schools, Doull Elementary and Ellis Elementary, have successfully completed air conditioning installations before the beginning of the current school year. However, there are ongoing complications regarding the installation process at Skinner Middle School, where the presence of asbestos is delaying air conditioning installations; completion is now expected to be pushed back to 2026.
Parents of students attending schools within the district have expressed dissatisfaction and frustration regarding the extreme heat conditions in classrooms this summer, particularly with respect to the delays in air conditioning projects. These concerns reflect a wider anxiety among families about the potential impact of high temperatures on student learning and comfort.
In addition to Denver Public Schools, Poudre School District has also decided to release most of its schools early on the same day, aligning with the general caution surrounding the high temperatures predicted for the area. As schools across the district navigate these challenges, the focus remains on ensuring the safety and well-being of students during extreme weather conditions.
The DPS aims to have all schools equipped with air conditioning by 2028, working progressively toward improving the facilities to provide better learning environments for the students. Amidst ongoing challenges with temperature management, the community continues to seek solutions to ensure students can thrive in comfortable and safe settings.
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Additional Resources
- CBS News: Multiple Denver schools cancel classes early release due to extreme heat
- Wikipedia: Denver Public Schools
- Denver Post: Denver schools closed due to heat
- Google Search: Denver heat wave 2025
- KDVR: Extreme heat cancels classes in Denver Public Schools
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Extreme Weather
- 9News: Extreme heat forces classroom closures in Denver
- Google News: Denver schools closure August 2025
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MILWAUKEE STAFF WRITER The MILWAUKEE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREMilwaukee.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Milwaukee, Milwaukee 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 Summerfest, Milwaukee Film Festival, and the Milwaukee Boat Show. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce and Visit Milwaukee, plus leading businesses in manufacturing and brewing that power the local economy such as Harley-Davidson and MillerCoors. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Wisconsin's dynamic landscape.
