Parents/Guardians » Inclement Weather/Emergency

Inclement Weather/Emergency


Dear parents and guardians,

Please review the following information and be aware of how and when we will delay or cancel school.

It is important that all families are prepared with a plan in case of any unexpected weather-related changes to the school schedule. It is also important that your children know the plan and know what to do in the event that a change is made.

Cranston Public Schools

Snow/Inclement Weather/Emergency Information

2023-2024 School Year


School delays or cancellations and subsequent moves to Distance Learning Days may be announced in the following ways:

    • RI Broadcasters Association: If you have not signed up for instant text alerts from RIBA, right click on this link to open http://goo.gl/cCNX4h. Sign up for alerts from Cranston Public Schools. **This is the quickest method of notification. We strongly encourage all staff and families to register for these alerts.**

Twitter Page: @CranstonSchools

Instagram Page: cranstonpublicschools

LinkedIn Page: cranstonpublicschools

  • District and/or school emails: Be on the lookout for messages from the school department `sure your email contact information is up to date.

  • Robocalls to homes will be used for emergency purposes, or when used by law enforcement

  • Individual school closures: Please be advised that there may be times when individual schools are canceled due to specific issues at those schools, but not the entire district. 

Delayed Openings: The RI Department of Education allows districts flexibility with delayed openings. When appropriate, we will delay the start of school, instead of closing for the day. Delays can be anywhere from 1-2 hours. Buses will be delayed for the same amount of time as school openings (i.e. 1 or 2 hours), but expect slight variations in bus times due to weather.

Know the normal start time of your child’s school, so if a delay is announced you will know when the children are expected to be in school. For your convenience, we have also listed the school hours for each Cranston Public School at the end of this document. For the printable 2023-2024 start times flier, click here.

Cancellations and Virtual Learning Days:  In very harsh or dangerous weather, we will cancel school for the entire day. We have permission from the RI Department of Education to use distance learning for three of our snow days for the 2022-2023 school year. In this case, these days count towards our 180 school days and do not need to be made up at the end of the year. Students will be moved to distance learning as they are able (assuming power, internet connection, etc.) Virtual Learning Days will be synchronous learning days. Student attendance will be taken and classes will run on a set schedule throughout the day starting at 9:00 am and ending at 2:00 pm. Students are welcome and encouraged to use the opportunity to get outdoors for snow play before school, during breaks, and after school hours. Any snow days beyond the initial three used for distance learning will need to be made up at the end of the school year.

Cancellation of after-school sports and activities: If after-school sports or activities are canceled due to inclement weather, these announcements will be made as soon as possible on CPS website, CPS Facebook page, RIBA, emails, and/or school listservs.

Early Dismissal: Unless absolutely necessary, we will not release schools early. This is the most disruptive option for families and our schools.  However, we need to plan for emergencies that may arise when this is deemed necessary. 

  • We will use all media previously mentioned above to contact families in the event we release schools early.

  • If we close schools early, buses will deliver their students to their appointed stops. Again, please be patient as we deliver all students with safety in mind. Please be sure that students know the plan for what to do when arriving home at an unexpected time of the day.

  • If your children walk, or you pick up your children at school, please discuss an alternate plan with your children so they are aware of what will happen if school is released early.


Student and staff safety is paramount in the decisions made to cancel or delay school. It is important that families have a plan ready for times when these delays or cancellations occur. It is important that students are aware of this plan. All delay/cancellation decisions are made in collaboration with CPS Transportation, Buildings and Grounds Departments, as well as City of Cranston Police and Public Works Departments. Often Rhode Island Emergency Management (RIEMA) and Cranston Emergency Management are consulted in cases when power outages or violent weather is expected. 

2023-2024 School Start and End Times:


High Schools: All three high schools begin at 7:37 am and end at 2:00 pm.

Middle Schools All four middle schools begin at  8:05 am and end at 2:20 pm

Elementary Schools: 

Arlington: 9:05 am to 3:20 pm

Dutemple: 9:05 am to 3:20 pm

Eden Park: 8:25 am to 2:40 pm 

Edgewood Highland: 8:40 am to 2:55 pm

Garden City : 9:05 am to 3:20 pm

Gladstone at Barrows: 8:30 am to 3:05 pm

Gladstone at Waterman: 8:50 am to 3:05 pm

Glen Hills: 9:05 am to 3:20 pm

Oaklawn: 9:05 am to 3:20 pm

Orchard Farms: 9:05 am to 3:20 pm

Peters: 8:35 am to 2:50 pm

Rhodes: 9:05 am to 3:20 pm

Stadium: 9:05 am to 3:20 pm

Stone Hill: 9:05 am to 3:20 pm

Woodridge: 9:05 am to 3:20 pm


Additional Programs

Sanders Academy/Cranston Transition Program: 7:30 am to 1:45 pm

Alternate Education Program: 7:37 am to 1:45 pm

Early Childhood Learning Center: 8:55 am to 3:10 pm

Horton Building (Special Services): 8:55 am to 3:10 pm

Adult Education Program (AEP): 8:00 am to 4:00 pm


Sincerely,

The Cranston Public Schools Leadership Team