Indianapolis-area schools cancel in-person classes Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, after winter storm impacts linger

Closures extend into a second day as districts cite road conditions and campus access

Many Indianapolis-area school districts moved away from in-person instruction on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, as Central Indiana continued to dig out from a winter storm that left significant snow totals across the metro region. District announcements described ongoing challenges ranging from neighborhood street conditions to the time needed to clear school parking lots, sidewalks and bus lanes.

Rather than using a single approach, schools adopted a mix of remote-learning models. Several districts scheduled e-learning days with live, real-time instruction, while others used asynchronous lessons students could complete on their own schedules. A smaller number of districts opted for a full closure with no schoolwork assigned.

District-by-district approaches varied across Marion County and surrounding suburbs

On Tuesday, Indianapolis Public Schools planned a synchronous e-learning day. Multiple township districts within Marion County also announced remote instruction, including Lawrence Township (virtual instruction day), Washington Township (synchronous e-learning), Warren Township (synchronous e-learning) and Decatur Township (asynchronous learning day). Wayne Township announced schools would be closed with no schoolwork assigned.

In the northern suburbs, Carmel Clay Schools and Hamilton Southeastern Schools scheduled e-learning days. Westfield Washington Schools and Zionsville Community Schools also announced e-learning for Jan. 27, and Noblesville Schools planned an e-learning day following a previously scheduled day off on Monday.

Private and parochial schools also shifted to e-learning or closed campuses

Several area private high schools indicated campuses would be closed while instruction continued remotely. Bishop Chatard High School scheduled an e-learning day and canceled activities. Cathedral High School, Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School, Scecina Memorial High School and Guerin Catholic High School also announced e-learning plans, with some classes using scheduled video meetings. Cardinal Ritter High School and its affiliated schools planned an e-learning day as well.

Not every district had issued an update at publication time

Some districts and schools had not posted an updated status for Tuesday at the time the closure lists were circulating, reflecting the rapidly changing nature of road and weather-related decision-making. In several communities, families were advised to monitor district communications for late updates, including any changes to athletics and after-school activities.

• Examples of remote-instruction models used Tuesday included synchronous e-learning, asynchronous learning, and virtual instruction days.

• Districts commonly cited the need for additional time to clear campuses and the difficulty of travel on untreated or partially treated roads.

Families should verify Tuesday schedules directly through their school district’s official communications, as status updates may change throughout the day.

For districts that closed entirely, some announcements included planned make-up days later in the school year, underscoring how winter disruptions can ripple into academic calendars and operational planning.