The safety of all children and staff members is the first concern of Rockingham County Schools when making decisions about closing school or dismissing early. Therefore, RCS asks families to partner with the district if a decision is made to close school or dismiss early. In addition, an emergency might affect the entire school system or, more frequently, just a small number of schools (as in a gas leak, water outage or power loss.) RCS collects information from our transportation team, as well as, local, state and federal agencies in order to make the most informed and safest decision for our students, staff and families. School transportation personnel will drive the bus routes to check firsthand on local conditions. The Assistant Superintendent of Operations and Logistics and Director of Safety consult with the National Weather Service, Emergency Management and local Law Enforcement. A decision is then made no later than 6:00 a.m. to either cancel or delay the opening of school. RCS will immediately alert the media, post an alert on the school website, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (X) and send a message to all parents and students through the Apptegy mobile application. All delays or early closing announcements will be made in terms of hours: one hour delay, two hour delay, etc. Parents of children in the before and after school day care program will receive inclement weather information announcements through our news partners, social media and website. RCS strives to give parents as much time as possible to plan for closings or delays.

Extracurricular Activities and Athletics on School Closings/Delays

When school is closed for the day or dismissed early due to inclement weather, all extracurricular activities and athletic games and/or practices will be canceled for that day. On days when school is delayed, student extracurricular activities, athletic games and/or practices may be canceled, held as normally scheduled or rescheduled depending on local weather conditions and other pertinent factors. A delayed opening does not automatically cancel an event. RCS personnel who are normally involved in scheduling these events shall work out the schedules for days affected by delayed openings and closings.

Severe Weather – Watches and Warnings

Severe Weather Watch – Transportation operations will proceed as usual during a severe weather watch. The Director of Transportation monitors conditions to ensure safe travel can be made by school buses. In order to maintain consistency in schedules, school buses will not deviate from the normal scheduled routes and will not make additional bus stops.

Severe Weather Warning – If a severe weather warning is issued before buses are loaded and away from campus, bus operations will be suspended and the students, under the direction of their principal, will take shelter in the school building until the warning is expired. If a severe weather warning is issued after buses have departed from the school, bus drivers will be instructed to proceed cautiously to a safe area to park the bus until the storm warning has expired.

Announcement Options

TV Stations: CBS-WFMY – 2; FOX-WGHP – 8; NBC-WXII – 12; Spectrum News - 1
Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter (X)
RCS Website, School and Mobile App