Updates: NC school districts close due to Helene

*Note: WFDD will update this page with news of school closures in our region.

Updated 10/1 8:44 a.m.

Alleghany County Schools will be closed for students Tuesday through Friday. These days will be optional work days for teachers. 

Lunches will be available for pick-up Wednesday through Friday for currently enrolled students at each school between 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Parents will need to indicate the names of their students when picking up lunches. Families with questions can contact their child’s school. 

Catawba County Schools announced there will be no school for students on Tuesday due to ongoing power outages in their school facilities. It will be an optional teacher work day. Extracurricular and athletic activities will be allowed after school, but families should check with their individual school or coach for updates.

District officials say they will continue to make decisions on a day-to-day basis. 

Additionally, Catawba County Schools will be offering free grab-and-go breakfast from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. and lunch from 12 to 1 p.m. for any child 18 and under, even if they are not a CCS student. Those services will be offered at St. Stephens Elementary, Mountain View Elementary, Maiden High School, Bandys High School and Bunker Hill High School.

Updated 9/30 6:34 p.m.

Wilkes County Schools announced it will be closed on Tuesday, following an assessment of road conditions. Officials say there are still some areas where it would not be safe for buses to travel. Tuesday will be an optional teacher work day. 

Moving forward, the district says it may need to utilize remote learning days. Families are encouraged to be clear on their school’s expectations for remote learning.

Updated 9/30 4:44 p.m.

Watauga County Schools remains closed this week, though Watauga High School will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily as a water distribution center.

Surry County Schools and Iredell-Statesville Schools will both be operating on a two-hour delay on Tuesday. The goal is to help with visibility for bus drivers and allow extra time for families to safely commute to their school campuses.

Students who ride the buses should arrive at their stop two hours later than they normally would. 

Updated 9/29 7:22 p.m.

Several western North Carolina school districts will be closed for students and staff over the coming days due to the effects of Hurricane Helene. 

In a Facebook post, Watauga County Schools announced the district will be closed all week. Officials say more information will be sent out on other platforms when services are restored. 

Alleghany County Schools will be closed for students Monday through Tuesday, though teachers have the option to work on Tuesday. 

In Wilkes County, closures were only announced for Monday. But officials say district staff will be assessing conditions on campuses and in the community to determine when students can safely return. It’s an optional workday for teachers, though employees who don’t feel comfortable traveling are urged not to. 

Classes have been canceled in Surry County Schools on Monday too, but the district is opening three high schools from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to shelter families who are without power. Officials say restrooms and showers will be available, and child nutrition staff will be on-site to serve meals. 

Iredell-Statesville Schools officials opted for a remote learning day on Monday. And in Yadkin County, power has been restored to all school buildings which means the district will be operating on a normal schedule.