Recent York City public school students experienced an unexpected day off on Monday, February 23, 2026, as a significant winter storm prompted the first all-school snow day in seven years. The closure extended beyond the city, impacting numerous school districts across New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
In New York, a widespread list of closures included the Ardsley Union Free School District, Baldwin School District, Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District, Byram Hills School District, Chapin School, Chappaqua School District, the Center for Disabilities in Hicksville and Woodbury, Deer Park School District, East Islip School District, Greenburgh School District, Half Hollow Hills School District, Harvey School, Haverstraw-Stony Point School District, Huntington School District, Island Park School District, Islip School District, Locust Valley School District, Lynbrook School District, Malverne School District, Manhasset School District, Mattituck Junior/Senior High School, Mineola School District, Nassau BOCES, Newburgh City School District, North Shore School District, Oceanside School District, Oyster Bay-East Norwich School District, Poughkeepsie City School District, Rockville Centre School District, Roosevelt Union Free School District, The Kings Academy, Tuckahoe School District, Valley Stream 30 School District, Valley Stream Public Schools, West Hempstead School District, and White Plains City School District. Wyandanch School District was also closed for the day.
New Jersey also saw substantial disruptions to the school schedule. Barnegat Township School District, Bergen County Special Services, Bergen County Technical Schools, Cliffside Park School District, Dumont School District, Englewood Cliffs, Fair Lawn Schools, Green Brook Academy, Hackensack School District, Harrison School District, Highland Park School District, Hoboken School District, Jefferson Township School District, Kinnelon Borough School District, Livingston Township School District, Memorial Day Nursery in Paterson, Mount Carmel Guild Academy, Netcong Elementary, One Step Ahead Day Care Center, Pequannack Township School District, Ridgefield Park ATC, River Dell Regional High School, Riverdale Public Elementary, Somerset County Educational Services Commission School District, South Plainfield School District, Springfield Adult Training, Springfield Township School District, Teaneck School District, Tewksbury Township School District, Totowa School District, Wallington School District, Watchung Borough School District, and Washington Elementary School in Little Ferry all announced closures.
Connecticut’s impact was more limited, with Norwalk High School being the only school specifically reported as closed.
The closures come as FOX 5 New York provides 24/7 winter storm coverage, streaming live on FOX LOCAL with the latest forecasts and preparation tips. The network is offering nonstop coverage via its smart TV and mobile applications.
In Westchester County, several schools are utilizing artificial intelligence to identify drivers illegally passing school buses, according to Lohud.com. This initiative, while separate from the weather-related closures, highlights ongoing efforts to improve student safety in the region.
The Ardsley Union Free School District recently appointed a new superintendent, as reported by dailyvoice.com, but this transition is unrelated to the current school closures.
Recent data from the Empire Center for Public Policy indicates that an influx of migrants is helping to curb the decline in K-12 enrollment in New York State, a trend that does not directly impact the immediate cause of the school closures but provides broader context to the state’s educational landscape.
