Thousands of students released early due to lack of air conditioning in Northern Colorado schools

In August 2025, the Poudre School District (PSD), primarily serving Fort Collins, Colorado, announced early releases for their elementary and middle school students due to extreme heat and lack of air conditioning at 32 of their schools. The district decided to release classes two hours early for more than a week, resulting in students often being dismissed around noon. Parents expressed concern, as early dismissals forced them to adjust work schedules or seek additional childcare, highlighting the challenges faced by working families. Several factors influenced this decision, including forecasts predicting consecutive days of temperatures exceeding 90 degrees and heat index ratings that suggested dangerously high classroom temperatures. This situation arose despite voters approving a significant mill levy nine months prior. The tax measure aimed to provide the Poudre School District with $49 million annually for school improvements, including the installation of air conditioning. However, due to the brief summer break, the district is faced with delays in equipping all facilities with adequate climate control. Even though some temporary cooling devices were made available, they were insufficient for the larger school buildings. As students voiced their discomfort, families shared their struggles online, many advocating for rapid solutions to ensure a safe learning environment for their children. In contrast, neighboring school districts such as Weld RE-4 and Greeley-Evans reported that their schools are fully equipped with air conditioning. Thompson School District mentioned that while half of their schools have AC, most buildings do possess climate control in common areas. The disparity in air conditioning capabilities between PSD and nearby districts drew significant attention, further amplifying the frustrations of PSD families. The lack of air conditioning and the decision to release students early captures a broader issue regarding school infrastructure and the adequacy of facilities to handle extreme weather conditions, especially in a time when climate change is leading to more frequent and intense heatwaves. As the Poudre School District navigates these challenges, including potential adjustments to athletics and extracurricular activities to cooler hours in the mornings, they face increased scrutiny from families and the community. Many parents view the situation as critical, urging the district to prioritize investments in infrastructure to safeguard students' well-being and ensure better learning conditions. The immediate focus remains on mitigating the impact of the current heatwave while planning for substantial improvements in the school's climate control systems for the future, hoping to prevent a recurrence of early dismissals during similar weather events.