List of New York schools closed for the total solar eclipse on April 8
Scores of schools across New York won’t be holding classes on Monday 8 April giving students a chance to enjoy the total solar eclipse with their families.
People across North America are getting ready to witness the solar eclipse happening on Monday 8 April. While 31 million live within the path of totality, they will be joined by millions more who will travel there for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the Moon completely blot out the Sun.
Citing strains on police and fire department infrastructure as well as traffic congestion from the large numbers of solar eclipse tourists and people gathering to view the awe-inspiring celestial event, hundreds of school districts across the nation have chosen to give their students the day off to enjoy the solar eclipse with their families.
READ ALSO: When is the total solar eclipse in 2024? Date, time, trajectory and where to see from the US
List of New York schools closed for the total solar eclipse on April 8
Here are the school closures that have been announced in the regions that will be in the path of totality.
Western New York
According to WGRZ in Buffalo the following schools will be closed:
Allegheny and Cattaraugus counties
- Allegany-Limestone
- Bolivar-Richburg
- Cattaraugus Little Valley
- Cuba Rushford
- Ellicottville
- Fillmore
- Franklinville
- Friendship
- Gowanda
- Hinsdale
- Olean (EARLY DISMISSAL)
- Pioneer
- Randolph Academy
- Randolph Central (STAFF DEVELOPMENT)
- Salamanca
- Scio (EARLY DISMISSAL 1130)
- Wellsville (EARLY DISMISSAL)
- - SECONDARY AT 1030
- - ELEMENTARY 1130
- Whitesville
Erie County
- Akron
- Alden
- Amherst
- Buffalo Public
- Cheektowaga
- Cheektowaga Sloan
- Clarence
- Cleveland Hill
- Depew
- East Aurora
- Eden
- Erie 1 BOCES
- Frontier
- Grand Island
- Kenmore
- Hamburg
- Holland
- Iroquois
- Lackawanna
- Lake Shore
- Lancaster
- Maryvale
- North Collins
- Orchard Park
- Sweet Home
- Springville
- Tonawanda
- West Seneca
- Williamsville
Chautauqua County
- Bemus Point
- Brocton
- Cassadaga
- Chautauqua Lake
- Clymer (HALF DAY)
- Erie 2 BOCES
- Falconer
- Forestville
- Fredonia
- Frewsburg
- Panama
- Pine Valley
- Ripley
- Sherman
- Southwestern
Niagara and Orleans Counties
- Albion
- Barker
- Lewiston-Porter
- Lockport
- Lyndonville
- Medina
- Newfane
- Niagara Falls
- Niagara Wheatfield
- North Tonawanda
- Royalton-Hartland
- Starpoint
- Wilson
Genesee and Wyoming Counties
- Alexander Central School District
- Attica Central School District - ½ DAY
- Batavia City School
- Byron-Bergen Central School District
- Elba Central School District
- LeRoy Central School District
- Oakfield-Alabama Central School District
- Pavilion Central School District
- Pembroke Central School District
- Warsaw Central School District
- Wyoming Central School
Finger Lakes
According to WROC in Rochester all schools will be closed in the following counties: Ontario, Genesee, Wayne, Orleans and Yates.
In Monroe County all schools will be closed except for the Brighton School District, which will have a half day to get students home before traffic becomes a problem.
And in Livingston County only the Canaseraga Central School District will be open during the eclipse. Students will be dismissed at a time when traffic won’t be a problem according to school officials.
Central New York
According to LocalSYR.com the following 21 schools will be closed on Monday 8 April:
- Liverpool Central School District
- North Syracuse Central School District
- Fayetteville Manlius Central School District
- Syracuse City School District
- Jamesville DeWitt Central School District
- Auburn Enlarged City School District
- Cato-Meridian Central School District
- Jordan-Elbridge Central School District
- Fabius-Pompey Central School District
- Lyncourt Union Free School District
- LaFayette Central School District
- Onondaga Central Schools District
- Union Springs Central School District
- Central Square Central School District
- East Syracuse Minoa
- Canastota
- Stockbridge Valley
- Sackets Harbor Central School
- Fulton City School District
- Phoenix Central School District
- Pulaski Schools
The following 10 schools will only have a half day of school:
- Cazenovia Central School District
- West Genesee Central School District
- Marcellus Central School District
- Altmar Parish Williamstown Central School District
- Chittenango Central School District
- Homer Central School District
- Baldwinsville Central School District
- Camden Central Schools
- Solvay Central Schools
- Skaneateles Central School District
Capital Region
Dozens of schools will be letting student out early in the Capitol Region according to ABC10 in Albany. The following schools will be closed:
Albany County
- Green Island Unified School District
- Ravena Coeymans Selkirk Central School District
Columbia County
- Germantown Central School District
- Ichabod Crane Central School District
Fulton County
- Broadalbin-Perth Central School District
- Canajoharie Central School District
- Gloversville Enlarged School District
- Greater Johnstown School District
- Mayfield Central School District
- Northville Central School District
Greene County
- Catskill Central School District
- Hunter-Tannersville Central School District
- Windham-Ashland-Jewett Central School
Montgomery County
- Fonda-Fultonville Central School District
- Greater Amsterdam School District
- Oppenheim-Ephratah-St. Johnsville Central School District
Rensselaer County
- Berlin Central School District
- Brunswick-Brittonkill Central School District
- East Greenbush Central School District
- Hoosic Valley Central School District
- Troy City School District
- Wynantskill Union Free School District
Saratoga County
- Edinburg Common School
- Mechanicville City School District
- Waterford-Halfmoon Union Free School District
Schenectady County
- Duanesburg Central School District
- Niskayuna Central School District
- Schalmont Central School District
- Schenectady City School District
- Schoharie County
- Gilboa-Conesville Central School
- Jefferson Central School Districtç
- Schoharie Central School District
- Sharon Springs Central School District
Warren County
- Hadley-Luzerne Central School District
- North Warren Central School District
Washington County
- Fort Ann Central School District
- Fort Edward Union Free School District
- Granville Central School District
- Hartford Central School District
North Country
According to NBC5 most of the schools in the North Country Region will be on spring break the week of 8 April. Northern Adirondack Central School District will dismiss students early. Here are the ones that are closing for the solar eclipse:
- Northeastern Clinton Central School District
- Beekmantown Central School District
- Keene Central School District
- Saranac Central School District
- Massena Central School District
- Ausable Valley Central School District
- Peru Central School District
There are a number of fun solar eclipse activities that families can do with their kids that are recommended by Scholastic. One of those is building a solar eclipse viewer. The Jet Propulsion laboratory provides instructions on how to build one at home.
Remember that you should never look directly at the Sun even during a solar eclipse. You should wear special eye protection to avoid damaging your eyes. The only time that it is safe to take them off is during totality, when the Moon completely blocks the face of the Sun for a brief moment.