Mar 30, 2024 - Science

Hundreds of schools are closing for next month's total eclipse

Jacob Knutson

A kid using eclipse glasses Louisville, Kentucky, in August 2017. Photo: Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post via Getty Images

Many schools across the U.S. will be closing their doors for the once-in-a-lifetime total solar eclipse on April 8.

The big picture: The path of totality will pass over parts of 15 states and should completely engulf several major cities in darkness, including Dallas, Little Rock, Indianapolis, Cleveland and Buffalo.

Outside of the path, people in every state will at least see a partial eclipse, barring bad weather.

Zoom in: Some schools, such as those in San Antonio, will close in part because they anticipate traffic issues from the thousands of people who are expected to travel to cities along the path of totality.

Schools, including many in East Tennessee, will release kids early, while others will be open but have lesson plans built around the celestial event.

Zoom out: Throughout April 8, The National Science Foundation (NSF) will be hosting an educational livestream geared toward school-aged children that will feature scientists who study the sun.

Hundreds of high school and college students will also be participating in nationwide science experiments during the eclipse, like the NASA and NSF-sponsored National Eclipse Ballooning Project.

By the numbers: The Federal Aviation Administration said Wednesday it expects spring break air traffic to peak with 50,670 flights on Thursday, April 4, in part because of people traveling for the eclipse.

Go deeper: Americans are pumped for the eclipse

Add Axios on Google

Hundreds of schools are closing for next month's total eclipse

What to read next