All Collin County School Districts Are Open Today Except Two: Here’s Why

Thanks to Presidents Day, students had a long weekend, but in Prosper and Celina, that weekend is now even longer. 

On Feb. 18, freezing temperatures swept through North Texas, continuing overnight and creating hazardous conditions. As Local Profile previously reported, cold temperatures alone usually aren’t enough for school cancellation. 

While snowfall was minimal, Prosper and Celina ISD, in far north Collin County, decided to cancel classes as a precaution. 

Why Celina And Prosper Canceled School

Celina ISD acknowledged that while most major roads appear clear, some rural areas may still have lingering ice, creating potential hazards for drivers. Additionally, after thoroughly inspecting school campuses, officials determined that many parking lots and sidewalks remained unsafe for students and staff. 

“We will spend much of tomorrow taking measures to ensure all of our schools will be safe to attend on Thursday and Friday,” Celina ISD said. “We will provide timely updates to you via email, text messages and our official Celina ISD website and social media channels.”

Prosper ISD also cited potentially icy roads and extreme cold as to why cancelations occurred. With the potential for continued icy patches and freezing weather, officials urged residents to stay off the roads when possible and take precautions against the cold.

“The safety of our students and staff is our top priority,” a statement from Prosper ISD read. “We’ll monitor conditions and share updates as needed.”

Why Other Districts Did Not Close

Allen ISD Chief Communications Officer David Hicks previously told Local Profile a school closure will only be considered if the district is unable to operate safely and effectively. This includes transportation challenges, such as unsafe road conditions or issues affecting bus operations.  

While cold weather hit all of North Texas, some areas were not as frigid as others, causing less hazardous conditions. Schools such as Frisco ISD, Allen ISD, McKinney ISD and Plano ISD chose to remain open after monitoring conditions. 

Plano ISD for example, sent an email to parents on the evening of Feb. 18, notifying them that schools would be open unless conditions worsened. “While we strive to make school closure decisions the evening before when possible, the unpredictable Texas weather sometimes requires us to wait for more accurate information,”  Plano ISD said in an email to parents. 

How To Monitor Closures, Delays And Early Releases

Typically, as soon as a decision is made on closures, delays or early releases, districts will notify parents via email. But there are other places to stay up to date: 

• Frisco ISD
  Closure information and updates will be posted at the district's website.
• McKinney ISD
  The district's Facebook and X are the first places closure information is updated.
• Plano ISD
  Closures and updates will be posted on the Plano ISD home page and app.
• Prosper ISD
  Parents will be notified through email, phone, text notification alerts and the app.
• Celina ISD
  A notice will be posted to the district website, Facebook page and on X.
• Allen ISD
  Announcements will first be posted on the district website, and on the Facebook page. 

To learn more about how schools decide when to close visit Local Profile’s guide to school closures here.  

What To Expect From The Weather

The Fort Worth-based National Weather Service (NWS) issued a winter weather advisory beginning at 5 p.m. on Tuesday and lasting until midnight Wednesday. This advisory covers Collin, Denton, Dallas, Tarrant and Johnson counties.

According to the NWS, light snow flurries will continue in North Texas today, though little to no accumulation is expected. Wind chills could drop as low as -12°F, with temperatures staying below freezing throughout the day. Strong north winds will make it feel even colder, with wind chills ranging from 10°F to 26°F this afternoon.

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