COVID-19 closures: Here are the schools that have had to shut down

Navigating the pandemic is tough, and it can be even harder when your children’s school closes suddenly because of COVID-19.

We want to help keep you updated on what schools in the Charlotte area are being impacted, seeing closures and are reopening.

Here is an updated list of schools that are currently closed and have been closed because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic:

Schools currently temporarily closed because of COVID-19:

• Union County Public Schools -- After analyzing COVID-19 data reports for students and staff, Union County Public Schools will return to Plan A and Plan B on Monday, Jan. 11. Elementary students will resume in-person classes four days a week, and middle/high school students will continue in-person classes two days a week. Students enrolled in Plan D will continue with an all-virtual learning environment. Fridays will remain a remote learning day for all students. In addition, all offices will reopen for Central Services employees. To view the COVID-19 data report from Dec. 22, 2020 – Jan. 8, 2021 click here. All of the cases have been addressed by school nurses.
• Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools -- All students, including Pre-K and students with disabilities, will return to remote learning through Jan. 19. Click here for the latest information.
• Cleveland County Schools -- The board voted 5-4 Thursday to delay the start of five-day instruction for pre-K through fourth grade until Feb. 8. Plan A will not start until Feb 8.
• Stanly County Schools -- Stanly County Schools have delayed the return to face-to-face learning. Students will return to in-person learning after the MLK holiday on Jan. 19. Virtual learning will be from Jan. 7 to Jan. 14.
• Kannapolis City Schools -- Kannapolis City Schools will move students (PK-12) and staff into Plan C remote-only instruction Jan. 5-15.
• Richmond County Schools -- Officials made the decision to temporarily go 100% remote for all students beginning Dec. 14 and extending remote learning at least through Jan. 29. Students will observe Christmas and New Year’s holidays Dec. 21 - Jan. 4. Additional information regarding the district’s next steps after Jan. 29 will be made in consultation with the local health department and utilizing CDC guidelines and data from local and state metrics. All high school EOC in-person testing for Biology, Math 1, Math 3 and English II will be postponed until second semester. All CTE state assessments that require in-person administration will also be postponed until second semester.
• Lancaster Schools -- Lancaster High, Indian Land High, Heath Springs Elementary, Brooklyn Springs Elementary and the Career Center are going all virtual until the Jan. 25. COVID-19 has caused staffing shortages.
• Cabarrus County Schools -- All Cabarrus County Schools returned to remote learning Dec. 14. Remote learning for all students will continue until the end of the first semester in January. Students will attend classes remotely Monday through Thursday for synchronous learning; Friday will continue to be an asynchronous day. KIDS:PLUS will remain open during this period of remote learning. Board members and CCS staff will continue to work with Cabarrus Health Alliance to monitor and review COVID-19 health indicators for Cabarrus County throughout the winter break and into January. Students will return to in-person learning in Plan B on Jan. 19.

COVID-19 closures: Here are the schools that have had to shut down

Previously closed because of COVID-19:

• Caldwell County Schools -- The School Board voted to designate Wednesdays as a remote learning day in grades K-5 effective Jan. 4, 2021. Students in elementary schools enrolled in face-to-face instruction will attend school four days a week with Wednesdays designated as a remote instruction day, so facilities may be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized. The schedule for middle and high school students will remain the same. Students in grades 6-12 will continue their assigned AA/BB schedule with Wednesdays as remote learning days for the same purposes. Students will report to school on Monday, Jan. 4, 2021, the start of the second semester and the third 9-week grading period. The first day for students enrolled in the Caldwell Early College High School and Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy, the innovative high schools located on the Caldwell Community College campus, is Wednesday, Jan. 6.
• AR Rucker Middle -- Rucker is experiencing a shortage of staff which limits the ability to cover all classes. To ensure students and staff are as safe as possible, Rucker is transitioning to an online learning model for all students from Dec. 14-22. All instructions will be virtual until Dec. 22. The holiday break will be from Dec. 23 through Jan. 1. In addition, all activities/practices are canceled. A-Day students will resume face-to-face instruction on Jan. 4. B-Day students will resume face-to-face instruction on Jan. 6.
• Indian Land High School -- Indian Land High School is experiencing a severe shortage of faculty and staff due to COVID-19 which limits the ability to respond to possible emergencies that may arise and the coverage of classes. To ensure students and staff are as safe as possible, Indian Land High is transitioning to an online learning model for all ILHS students until Dec. 22. All instruction will be virtual through Dec. 22 and all students will be required to access their classes via Google Meet. Teachers will be sending out the links and additional information before Dec. 14. Students who attend the Lancaster Career Center for classes may attend if they provide their own transportation. A-Day students will resume face-to-face instruction on Jan. 4. B-Day students will resume face-to-face instruction on Jan. 6. All end-of-course testing will be postponed until our return on Jan. 4, including the virtual student Biology 1 end-of-course originally scheduled for Dec 11. Lunches will be available for pick-up on Fridays from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. to students enrolled at Indian Land High School ONLY. All athletic contests and practices will be postponed until after the shutdown and may resume on Dec. 28.
• Lancaster High School -- Lancaster High School is experiencing a severe shortage of faculty and staff due to COVID-19 which limits the ability to respond to possible emergencies that may arise and the coverage of classes. To ensure students and staff are as safe as possible, Lancaster High is transitioning to an online learning model for all Lancaster High students until Jan. 4. End-of-course exams will be postponed until after winter break. All instruction will be virtual until Jan. 4. Students who are also Lancaster Career Center students may still attend classes with their own transportation. A-Day students will resume face-to-face instruction on Jan. 4. B-Day students will resume face-to-face instruction on Jan. 6. Meals will be available for pickup on Fridays from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. in the LHS bus loop.
• Union County Public Schools -- The Board of Education held an emergency meeting Dec. 30. Senior leaders discussed a plan to proactively assess COVID-19 data that was reported during winter break. In consultation with the Union County Health Department, staff made a recommendation to move all schools and office buildings to Plan C next week. This will allow school staff to analyze COVID-19 reporting data pertinent to employees and students. The Board of Education approved the decision for all students and staff to work remotely Jan. 4 – 8. Monday, Jan. 4 is a teacher workday and schools on the traditional schedule will resume classes Tuesday, Jan. 5. Union County Early College students will begin classes on Jan. 4. All school buildings and offices will reopen on Monday, Jan. 11 and students will follow their assigned schedule for second semester.
• Hildebran Elementary School -- Burke County Public Schools was made aware on Dec. 8 of a cluster of at least five or more related positive COVID-19 cases at Hildebran Elementary School. As a result, Hildebran Elementary School will move to Plan C instruction through Dec. 21. All learning at Hildebran will transition from in-person to remote while the school building is closed.
• Icard Elementary School -- Burke County Public Schools was made aware Dec. 10 of a cluster of at least five or more related positive COVID-19 cases at Icard Elementary. As a result, the school will move to Plan C instruction through Dec. 21.
• Anson County Schools -- All Anson County schools will move to full remote learning Dec. 14-18. Students will observe Christmas and New Year’s holidays Dec. 21 - Jan. 1. All high school EOC in-person testing for Biology, Math 1, Math 3 and English II will be postponed until second semester. All CTE state assessments that require in-person administration will also be postponed until second semester.
• Fort Mill School District -- Fort Mill Elementary and Pleasant Knoll Middle schools will move to virtual learning for all in-person students for the week of Dec. 14–18.
• A.R. Rucker Middle School -- There were four positive COVID-19 at this Lancaster County middle school, resulting in 12 staff members and 32 students currently quarantined. The school will move to remote learning for two weeks and will resume in-person learning on Nov. 30.
• Clinton Elementary School -- This elementary school in Lancaster County had one positive COVID-19 case, and 13 staff members and seven students are quarantining as a result. The school will move to remote learning for two weeks. They will resume in-person learning on Nov. 30.
• Erwin Elementary -- Lancaster County Schools said there were four positive cases, which led to the quarantine of nine staff members. It is moving to virtual learning for two weeks, and students will return after Thanksgiving break on Nov. 30.
• South Elementary School -- This elementary school in Mooresville transitioned to remote learning because of four positive COVID-19 cases. The school will be closed through Nov. 27 and students will return after Thanksgiving break on Nov. 30.
• Shuford Elementary School -- Newton-Conover Schools announced there will be school-wide remote learning through Dec. 4 out of an abundance of caution due to a COVID-19 cluster. The remainder of NCCS schools continue to operate with the plans in place, A or B.
• Wesley Chapel Elementary -- Union County Public Schools announced on Nov. 16 that three students at Wesley Chapel Elementary have tested positive for COVID-19, and as a result, several students and staff members may have been exposed to the virus. The school will be closed for students and staff Nov. 17-27. During this time, all students and staff will work remotely (Plan C) until the school reopens on Monday, Nov. 30.
• Hallyburton Academy -- Burke County Public Schools announced on Nov. 9 that it will transition Hallyburton to Plan C instruction until Nov. 19 after the district was made aware of a number of exposures to a positive COVID-19 case. All learning at Hallyburton will move from in-person to remote while the school building is closed for cleaning and exposures are quarantined or isolated.
• Hickory Career Arts Magnet -- The school announced on Nov. 5 that it will move to all remote learning. The school district is doing expanded cleaning to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Public health is conducting contact tracing.
• Stanly County Schools -- The entire district moved to remote learning after a third-grade teacher died from COVID-19 and the county said there is increased community spread of the virus. The schools will be virtual starting on Oct. 14 and will return to in-person learning on Nov. 2.
• East Union Middle School, Union County -- A staff member at the school tested positive for COVID-19, and school leaders said several students and staff members may have been exposed to the virus. The middle school will be virtual starting Oct. 13 and will return to in-person learning on Oct. 27.
• Icard Elementary, Burke County -- The district said it was made aware of at least five or more positive cases related to the elementary school Oct. 20. The school will move to Plan C, all remote instruction, until Nov. 5. The school is shut down and will have no activity for several days. The custodial team will then start the thorough cleaning process. Read more information here.
• Crest High School, Cleveland County -- The school decided to close for two weeks after seven staff members tested positive for COVID-19. The high school started virtual learning around Sept. 30 and returned for in-person learning on Oct. 15.
• Webb Street School, Gaston County -- The Gaston County school for children with special needs closed after two employees tested positive for the virus. The students learned remotely from Sept. 10-21.
• Iron Station Elementary, Lincoln County -- The elementary school closed after five teachers tested positive for COVID-19. Students learned virtually starting Aug. 17 and returned to in-person classes on Aug. 31.
• Weddington Elementary, Union County -- The Union County elementary school closed because a staff member tested positive and as a result, several other staff members and students may have been exposed to the virus. Students learned remotely from Aug. 27 until Sept. 7 and returned for in-person classes on Sept. 8.
• Poplin Elementary, Union County -- The elementary school closed for three weeks after two staff members tested positive for COVID-19.
• Gardner Park Elementary, Gaston County -- According to our news partner the Gaston Gazette, the school reported a cluster of seven new cases among students and employees. The elementary school was virtual starting Oct. 13 and returned to in-person learning on Oct. 26.
• Unionville Elementary School -- A student and staff member tested positive. The school taught remotely for two weeks starting Oct. 26.

If students return to the classroom, what is the risk your child will be exposed to COVID-19? If students return to the classroom, what is the risk your child will be exposed to COVID-19? (NCD)

Cox Media Group