School Year Kicks Off at PSD with Transitional Days and Premature Dismissals to Escape the Summer Heatwave
Poudre School District (PSD) has announced an early release schedule for the first day of the 2025-26 school year, which falls on August 14, due to forecasted extreme heat. The decision aims to protect the health and safety of students and staff by releasing students two hours earlier at many schools when temperatures are expected to exceed 90 degrees.
The early release applies to most elementary schools (excluding mountain schools), all middle schools, and some high schools such as Centennial High School, Polaris Expeditionary Learning School, and Poudre Community Academy. Schools like Fort Collins High School, Fossil Ridge High School, Poudre High School, and others will maintain a normal schedule.
Buses will arrive at stops two hours earlier on August 14 and 15, and some after-school activities and field trips are canceled during early release days. After-school care (AlphaBEST) is limited and only offered at designated elementary schools during early release periods, with families responsible for transportation.
On Wednesday, August 13, 2025, PSD will hold its annual Transition Day for incoming 6th and 9th graders. The purpose of Transition Day is to ease nerves, build confidence, and set students up for success as they navigate new campuses, meet teachers, find their classes, and adjust to the routines of middle and high school without the pressure of a packed crowd.
It is essential for families to plan for earlier pickups on August 14 and 15 due to the early release. PSD determines heat-related early release by evaluating weather forecasts regularly and re-assessing conditions midweek to decide if the early release schedule should continue or revert to normal if temperatures fall below 90 degrees.
In summary, PSD’s early release schedule responds proactively to extreme heat to reduce heat exposure risks, adjusting start and dismissal times to cooler periods of the day while maintaining transportation and some care options with modifications. Families should be aware that limited space is available at AlphaBEST programs on August 14 and 15, requiring transportation arrangements.
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