Knox County School Closings Today: Complete List, Weather Updates & Reopening Schedule

Knox County Schools will remain closed Thursday, February 5, after district officials cited “worsening road conditions overnight” and a heightened risk of black ice that could endanger buses and teen drivers. The decision marks the fourth straight snow day this week for Tennessee’s third-largest district, which serves nearly 60,000 students. Why the extended shutdown? • A stubborn mix of melting snow and evening rain refroze across shaded subdivisions and rural hillsides, areas where many of the district’s 350 buses turn around. • The National Weather Service in Morristown issued a special weather statement warning drivers to “be prepared for slick spots, especially on untreated roads” as temperatures dip into the upper teens. • Knox County maintenance crews have been salting campuses all week, but secondary roads remain 30-40 percent snow-covered, according to county engineering estimates. What this means for families • No in-person or virtual classes Thursday. Teachers may post optional enrichment, but assignments are not graded. • School-aged childcare (SACC) programs and athletic practices are canceled. • Central Office, principals, custodial and maintenance staff will report at 9 a.m. to continue snow-removal efforts. Surrounding East Tennessee districts also closed Anderson, Blount, Campbell, Claiborne, Cocke, Grainger, Greene, Hamblen, Jefferson, Loudon, McMinn, Monroe, Morgan, Roane, Scott, Sevier and Union counties all announced full closures or two-hour delays for February 5, underscoring the region-wide impact of the ice storm. Parents with children in multiple districts should check each system’s website or social media feed for specific bell-schedule updates. How many snow days are left? Knox County Schools builds eight inclement-weather days into its academic calendar; Thursday’s closure will be the fifth used this winter. If the district exhausts its allotment, it could convert future days into virtual learning or extend the spring semester to meet the state’s instructional-hour requirement. When could classes resume? Forecast models show a gradual warm-up beginning Friday afternoon, with highs climbing above freezing and rain likely on Saturday. District leaders say a decision about Friday operations will be announced by 6 p.m. Thursday via: • KCS text/email alerts • The district website knoxschools.org • Local television and radio stations What parents should do now 1. Verify bus-route status: Roads that look clear downtown may still be slick in the county’s northern and western hills. 2. Prepare for power glitches: Ice-laden tree limbs may fall as temperatures rebound, so charge devices and check flashlights. 3. Review make-up work: Encourage students to read, log in to Clever for adaptive math practice or finish any outstanding projects. Search trends show families across East Tennessee frantically googling “Knox County school closings,” “Is Knox County Schools closed tomorrow?” and “KCS snow schedule.” Bookmark this page and check back for the fastest official updates as the winter storm unfolds.