Knox County and East Tennessee schools announce closures this week

Sarah Riley and Silas Sloan, Knoxville News Sentinel
Updated ·2 min read

Knox County Schools will be closed Jan. 16 and 17 because of the winter storm moving across East Tennessee. Dangerous snow accumulation and frigid temperatures are predicted.

A winter storm warning from the National Weather Service is in place until 7 a.m. Jan. 16. Four to 8 inches of snow are possible before single-digit temperatures move in.

Schools already were closed Jan. 15 for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Knox County Schools Superintendent Jon Rysewyk told reporters during a media call Jan. 15 the district waited until then to make the closure announcement because the district wanted to see if it would snow. Once it did, the decision to close schools through at least Wednesday because temperatures aren’t expected to get above freezing until Thursday made sense.

Rysewyk said the district can skip eight days before school days need to be made up later in the year. The district has five days left to miss before it needs to schedule additional school days.

The district can hold up to two remote learning days, but Ryswyk said the district will go to remote days only as a last resort.

In the meantime, Rysewyk said students, parents and teachers should enjoy the snow day and the family memories that can come with them.

East Tennessee school closures

  • Anderson County Schools - Jan. 16 and 17

  • Annoor Academy of Knoxville - Jan. 16 and 17

  • Berean Christian School - Jan. 16 and 17

  • Blount County Schools - Jan. 16 and 17

  • Clinton City Schools - Jan. 16 and 17

  • Concord Christian School - Jan. 16 and 17

  • Cumberland County Schools - Jan. 16, 17, 18 and 19.

  • Grace Christian Academy- Jan. 16 and 17

  • Greeneville City Schools - Jan. 16

  • Jefferson County Schools - Jan. 16 and 17

  • Knoxville Catholic High School - Jan. 16 and 17

  • Lenoir City Schools - Jan. 16 and 17

  • Loudon County Schools - Jan. 16 and 17

  • Maryville City Schools - Jan. 16 and 17

  • Monroe County Schools - Jan. 16 and 17

  • Oak Ridge Schools - Jan. 16 and 17

  • Paideia Academy - Jan. 17

  • Roane County Schools - Jan. 16 and 17

  • Sevier County Schools- Jan. 16 and 17

  • Sweetwater City Schools - Jan. 16 and 17

  • Tate's School - Jan. 16 and 17

  • University of Tennessee campus (online classes will continue) - Jan. 16 and 17

  • Webb School of Knoxville- Jan. 16 and 17

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Check other cancelations and weather forecasts in our LIVE BLOG.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knox County and East Tennessee schools announce closures this week