School closings today and tomorrow: Metro Detroit, Michigan and Ohio districts adjust schedules amid cold and snow (Jan. 21–22, 2026)

Families across Michigan and Ohio are checking schedules again as bitter cold, fresh snow, and uneven road conditions drive a new round of school closings and delays. In Metro Detroit, the biggest headline is that Detroit’s main public school district is operating on a normal schedule today (Wednesday, January 21, 2026), while a smaller set of schools and programs are closed or delayed. Farther west in Michigan, closures are more widespread and, in several areas, extend into Thursday (January 22, 2026).

• Detroit’s main public school district is open today, January 21, with students and staff expected at regular times.

• Metro Detroit’s list is currently a mix of select closures plus a few delayed starts (including a 2-hour delay in Monroe Public Schools).

• West Michigan has broader closures today and a long list of districts already marked closed for Thursday, January 22.

• Northeast Ohio’s latest update set is smaller, with a few 1-hour delays today and limited “tomorrow” closures posted so far.

Metro Detroit school closings today (Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026)

Detroit’s main public school district announced late Tuesday that all schools and district buildings would be open today (Jan. 21), and urged families to plan extra time for the commute due to morning snowfall and potentially uncleared lots.

Beyond the city district, Metro Detroit’s current list includes a handful of closures and delayed starts:

Delayed starts

• Monroe Public Schools: Delayed 2 hours

• Detroit Community Schools (charter): Opening at 7:30 a.m.

• Triumph Academy: Delayed 2 hours

Closed today

• ABT High: Closed

• Berkley Building Blocks: Closed (building-related issue noted)

• Detroit Public Safety Academy: Closed

• Hope Academy: Closed

• Joy Prep Academy – Dexter: Closed (building-related issue noted)

• West Middle – Taylor: Closed

• Westside Christian Academy: Closed

• Avery Center: Closed (building-related issue noted)

If you’re searching for Ann Arbor Public Schools: there isn’t a district-wide weather closure notice posted on the district’s dedicated “School Closings” page at publish time, which generally signals a normal operating day unless families receive a direct message overnight or early morning.

West Michigan: school closures today and a larger list already posted for Thursday (Jan. 22)

West Michigan’s disruption is broader, reflecting heavier localized snowfall impacts and longer cleanup windows in some counties.

Notable closures posted for today (Wednesday, Jan. 21)

• Holton Public Schools: Closed (listed for 1/21)

• Mona Shores Public Schools: Closed (with a daycare note for enrolled families)

• Montague Area Public Schools: Closed (listed for 1/21)

• Ravenna Public Schools: Closed (listed for 1/21)

• Muskegon Catholic Central: Closed Wednesday

• Western Michigan Christian (HS/MS): Closed Wednesday

• Macatawa Area Express: Delayed start (9 a.m.)

Already posted as closed for tomorrow (Thursday, Jan. 22) — selected highlights

• Holland Public Schools: Closed

• Zeeland Public Schools: Closed

• West Ottawa Public Schools: Closed

• Grand Haven Area Public Schools: Closed

• Spring Lake Public Schools: Closed

• Muskegon Public Schools: Closed

• North Muskegon Public Schools: Closed

• Oakridge Public Schools: Closed

• Whitehall District Schools: Closed

• Fruitport Community Schools: Closed (with a child care note)

Because many West Michigan entries are already tagged for Thursday, this is a region where “tomorrow” decisions are clearly moving earlier than usual.

Ohio school delays and closings: smaller lists posted so far (Jan. 21–22)

For Northeast Ohio (Cleveland-area coverage region), the latest posted items are comparatively limited at publish time:

Today (Wednesday, Jan. 21)

• Beaver Run Forest School: Delayed 1 hour

• Pine Lake Forest School: Delayed 1 hour

• Willey Creek Forest School: Delayed 1 hour

Tomorrow (Thursday, Jan. 22)

• Bowling Green Firelands College: Closed tomorrow

For Columbus and central Ohio, the major wave of closures widely circulated this week centered on Tuesday’s extreme wind chills. As of early Wednesday, the main public-facing feeds visible at publish time do not show a large, consolidated list for Jan. 21 in plain text, which often means many districts returned to normal operations—but families should still watch for district-by-district calls made late evening or very early morning if conditions worsen.

School closing predictions: what usually triggers late-night changes

If you’re trying to gauge school closings tomorrow (Jan. 22) before an announcement posts, these are the signals administrators typically weigh:

• Road treatment and refreeze risk: Overnight drops after daytime melting can create black ice, especially on neighborhood streets and bus routes.

• Lake-effect snow bands: A forecast that looks “manageable” regionally can still produce localized whiteouts that force closures in specific counties.

• Wind chills and bus-stop safety: Even if roads are passable, dangerously low wind chills can push districts toward closure, remote learning, or delayed starts.

• Parking lot and sidewalk clearance: Several districts explicitly flag this; if lots can’t be cleared before buses arrive, closure odds rise.

• Staffing and transportation constraints: When illness spikes or drivers can’t safely report, districts may pivot quickly.

Detroit’s public school district also highlighted a behind-the-scenes factor families don’t always see: limited “forgiveness” weather days can shape how aggressively districts close, because using too many can force make-up days later in the school year.

Quick FAQ

Is school closed today in Detroit (Jan. 21, 2026)?
Detroit’s main public school district is open today, with regular reporting times and a warning to allow extra travel time.

Are Ann Arbor Public Schools closed today?
No district-wide weather closure notice is posted on the district’s “School Closings” page at publish time, which typically indicates a normal schedule unless families receive a direct message.

What’s the fastest way to confirm your district’s status?
Use your district’s official robocall/text/email system and its website or social channels. Third-party lists can lag or miss last-minute changes.

As the cold and snow pattern stays active, the most important window is still the overnight-to-early-morning stretch: that’s when plow progress, refreeze conditions, and banded snowfall become clear enough for final calls. Keep an eye on district alerts this evening for any rapid updates tied to Thursday morning’s roads and wind chills.