School Year Kicks Off at PSD with Transitional Days and Premature Dismissal to Avoid Heatwave
Poudre School District Announces Two-Hour Early Release Due to High Temperatures
Poudre School District (PSD) has announced that most schools will release students two hours earlier than usual on Thursday, August 14, and Friday, August 15, 2025, due to forecasted high temperatures.
The early release applies to all elementary schools except the Mountain schools, all middle schools, Centennial High School, Polaris Expeditionary Learning School, and Poudre Community Academy. Students who ride the bus will be transported home two hours earlier than usual.
AlphaBEST after-school care will be available only at Bacon, Eyestone, and McGraw Elementary Schools with limited space. Families must transport students to these sites and register according to AlphaBEST procedures. Afternoon field trips, Early Childhood sessions, and after-school activities are canceled at schools releasing early on these days.
Schools continuing normal operations with no early release include Fort Collins, Fossil Ridge, Poudre, Rocky Mountain High Schools, Timnath and Wellington Middle High Schools, PSD Global Academy, PSD transition programs, and all Mountain schools. Charter schools will decide independently on early release, and concurrent enrollment classes continue as scheduled.
The PSD Transition Day for sixth and ninth graders on August 13 proceeds as planned without early release. During the Transition Day, students have the opportunity to explore new campuses, meet teachers, find their classes, and adjust to the routines of middle and high school without the pressure of a packed crowd.
Buses will run their regular routes but arrive at stops two hours early on August 14 and 15. PSD is starting the 2025-26 school year on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, with a Transition Day for incoming 6th and 9th graders.
Families should plan for earlier pickups on August 14 and 15, and those requiring after-school care should make transportation arrangements for their children to attend AlphaBEST programs at Bacon, Eyestone, and McGraw elementary schools. It is essential to note that space is limited, and registration is required according to AlphaBEST procedures.
[1] Poudre School District Communications, "Two-Hour Early Release on August 14 and 15," 1 August 2025. [4] Poudre School District Communications, "2025-26 School Year Begins with Transition Day," 1 August 2025.
- Despite the early release, schools such as Fort Collins, Fossil Ridge, Poudre, Rocky Mountain High Schools, Timnath and Wellington Middle High Schools, PSD Global Academy, PSD transition programs, and all Mountain schools will operate as usual on August 14 and 15.
- Community members living near Bacon, Eyestone, and McGraw Elementary Schools should be aware that AlphaBEST after-school care will be available during the early release on August 14 and 15, but space is limited and registration is required.
- Beyond health concerns for students, the high temperatures also affect the environment, emphasizing the importance of proper ventilation and cooling systems in schools and buildings within the Fort Collins community.
- The Poudre School District (PSD) also offers various education-and-self-development programs, such as the Poudre Community Academy and Polaris Expeditionary Learning School, which will release students early on August 14 and 15.
- Businesses and organizations in the Fort Collins and Timnath community should be mindful of early school drop-offs on August 14 and 15, as bus arrival times at stops will be two hours earlier than usual due to the early dismissal.
