TEMPLE, Texas — April 8, 2024, is set to be a big day in Central Texas, as a total solar eclipse passes overhead, blocking out the sun around 1:36 p.m.
With the population of some cities and counties expected to double for the event, many communities in Central Texas are already preparing.
Several local school districts are also taking precautions for the eclipse, with many having already canceled classes on the day of the astronomical event.
Here is a list of which Central Texas schools have canceled classes on April 8, and what other changes have been made to school calendars to make up for it.
- Belton Independent School District: Belton ISD will close all campuses and district offices on April 8. To make up for the day, the district will remove the scheduled student holiday/workday on April 15, which will instead become a regular school day.
- Killeen Independent School District: Killeen ISD has designated April 8 as a district holiday and will not hold classes. According to the district, the Board of Trustees has changed the calendar to instead hold Monday, April 1 as a regular school day.
- Temple Independent School District: Temple ISD will close schools on April 8. TISD stated there are enough instructional minutes in the school calendar that students will not have to make up the day.
- Midway Independent School District: Midway ISD will reportedly make April 8 a school holiday, moving a day that was previously scheduled for April 15. April 15 will reportedly be held as a regular school day instead.
- Gatesville Independent School District: According to the Gatesville ISD academic calendar, April 8 is listed as a staff development day, and students will be off.
- Lampasas Independent School District: The Lampasas ISD district calendar lists April 8, 2024, as a student holiday/comp day.
- Burnet Independent School District: April 8 is a student and staff holiday in Burnet ISD, according to the district's academic calendar.
- Copperas Cove Independent School District: Copperas Cove ISD lists April 8 as a student holiday/staff professional development day.
- Salado Independent School District: Salado ISD will be closed for the eclipse on April 8.
- Cameron Independent School District: Cameron ISD lists April 8 as a work day on its academic calendar.
- Robinson Independent School District: April 8 is listed as a student and staff holiday in Robinson ISD.
- Clifton Independent School District: Clifton ISD will not have on April 8, 2024, the district announced. Clifton ISD says they have enough minutes banked that they will not need to make up the day.
- Troy Independent School District: Troy ISD will have a school holiday on April 8 as a precautionary measure.
- Connally Independent School District: Connally ISD has announced that it will close all campuses on April 8 for the eclipse. Teachers will reportedly provide students with eclipse viewing glasses and age-appropriate lessons to help them take "full advantage" of the event. Students will return to classes the next day on April 9, and will have class on that Friday, April 12, changing the schedule from having that Friday off to having that Monday off.
- Rogers Independent School District: Rogers ISD has announced that it will be closed on Monday, April 8 for the eclipse. The district said it will distribute the eclipse glasses/screens that it has to students so that they can "enjoy the day in safety". A make-up day will be held on May 10, which is currently a school holiday, said the district.
- Franklin Independent School District: Franklin ISD says schools will be closed all day on Monday, April 8. This decision was made so all students can get home prior to the event happening because they want every child to have the ability to watch it, if possible. The district says it will not have to make this day up.
- Fairfield Independent School District: Fairfield ISD has announced it will be closed on Monday, April 8 for the eclipse. The district said it will send all students home with eclipse glasses so they can safely view the eclipse from home. According to the district, there are "just too many variables out of our control", and the safety of staff and students remains their priority.
This list will be updated as needed.
For more information on how local schools are preparing for the eclipse, visit this link.
For more eclipse coverage from 6 News, visit KCENTV.com/eclipse.
More eclipse coverage from 6 News: