There is no single magic temperature where schools automatically cancel everywhere; it depends on your local district, the weather type (cold vs snow/ice), and safety issues like buses and roads.

Quick Scoop: Typical Temperature Ranges

Most districts look at wind chill , not just the air temperature.

Common rough thresholds in cold-climate U.S. districts:

  • Around 0°F: Some districts start watching buses and adjusting practices (indoor recess, extra checks), but often still stay open if roads are clear.
  • Around -10°F to -15°F wind chill: Some districts say they will consider a delay or closure in this range, especially if it’s sustained at arrival time.
  • Around -20°F to -25°F wind chill: Many written policies explicitly say school will likely close or at least delay because this is considered “dangerously cold” for kids waiting at bus stops.
  • Extreme cases (around -35°F wind chill): Some districts, like in parts of the Upper Midwest, use this level as a clear cutoff to cancel or delay.

One example: a district in Ohio closes if temperature or wind chill drops to about -20°F to -25°F, citing National Weather Service guidance that this is dangerous after 10–15 minutes of exposure. Another Ohio district says they consider cancelling when the temperature with wind chill is below -15°F.

Key idea

There’s no federal or nationwide rule and no universal “cancel school” temperature; each district sets its own guidelines or makes case‑by‑case calls.

More Than Just the Thermometer

When administrators decide whether to cancel, they usually look at a bundle of factors, not only “what temperature does it have to be to cancel school.”

Common things they weigh:

  • Wind chill and exposure time : How cold it will feel at bus stops and on walks, and for how long kids will be outside.
  • Road and sidewalk conditions : Snow, ice, plowing status, and whether buses can drive safely.
  • Bus reliability in cold : Very low temperatures can cause diesel buses to struggle to start or run reliably below about 15°F if not prepared.
  • Time of day and duration : Whether dangerously low wind chills will be present at arrival time, dismissal time, or both.
  • Forecast trends : If it will warm up quickly, schools might delay instead of cancel; if it will stay dangerous all day, they’re more likely to close.

Because of that, big city districts like New York City and Chicago often say there is no specific cutoff number ; they assess overall conditions and sometimes stay open even with single-digit or below-zero temperatures if transport and buildings are safe.

What People Say in Forums and Real Life

Online discussions and forum threads show how varied experiences are:

  • Some people in very cold U.S. states mention schools still open at around -10°F to -16°F, sometimes with only a short bus delay.
  • Others in warmer or wetter countries talk about closures with relatively mild cold but heavy snow or flooding, or even heat days above about 40°C in classrooms without air conditioning.
  • Many comments point out that roads and ice matter more than the exact number on the thermometer.

These conversations highlight why “what temperature does it have to be to cancel school” is a trending topic every winter: people in different climates have very different expectations and norms.

Quick “Rule of Thumb” View

You can think of it like this for cold-related closures (U.S./Canada style climates):

  1. Above 0°F wind chill
    • Schools are usually open , assuming roads are okay.
  1. Around 0°F to -10°F wind chill
    • Schools often stay open but may adjust (indoor recess, watch buses closely).
  1. Around -10°F to -20°F wind chill
    • Many districts start considering delays or closures , especially if it’s dark, windy, and kids have to wait outside.
  1. Below about -20°F to -25°F wind chill
    • It’s common for districts with written policies to cancel or delay school because of frostbite risks with short exposure.
  1. Around -35°F wind chill and below
    • Often treated as extremely dangerous; closures or at least delayed starts are very likely in cold‑winter regions.

Remember: some places never close for cold alone and only close for severe snow and ice, while others use specific cold cutoffs that are written into their FAQs or weather policies.

If You Want a Real Answer for Your School

Since there’s no universal temperature, the best way to know what temperature it has to be to cancel school where you live is to:

  1. Check your district’s “inclement weather” or “cancellation and delay” page on its website. Many list exact “consider closing at -15°F” or “close at -25°F wind chill” thresholds.
  1. Look for local news or district emails/texts that describe how winter decisions are made, especially during recent cold snaps.
  1. Ask a school administrator or office staff; they can usually tell you whether they use a number (like -20°F wind chill) or make case‑by‑case decisions.

TL;DR: There’s no single temperature that cancels school everywhere, but many cold‑climate districts start seriously considering closures somewhere between about -15°F and -25°F wind chill, while also factoring in roads, buses, and how long kids are exposed.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.