Massachusetts and New Hampshire School Closings and Delays for January 7

Parents in Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire got an unexpected reprieve Wednesday morning when dozens of school districts pushed back start times because of hazardous road conditions. Overnight freezing rain left a thin but treacherous coating of ice on roads, bridges, and sidewalks, making early travel particularly risky for school buses and commuter traffic.

The decision to delay—mostly by two hours—reflects a cautious approach that has become standard in New England winters. Superintendents, working with local police and public works crews, monitored conditions overnight and into the pre-dawn hours before announcing changes. While most districts opted for delays, a small number chose full closures.

The National Weather Service had warned of potential icing, and local forecasts proved accurate. As CBS Boston reported, the freezing rain created widespread slick spots that lingered in the cold morning air before temperatures gradually rose.

For families, the announcements meant scrambling to adjust childcare, remote work schedules, or carpool plans. But safety remains the clear priority—no district wants to risk sending buses onto untreated roads before crews have had time to salt and sand.

Which Schools Are Affected?

As of Wednesday morning, more than 80 public, private, and charter schools and districts across the two states reported delays or closures. The vast majority implemented two-hour delays, with many canceling morning preschool or kindergarten sessions. A handful of districts and programs closed entirely.

The list below is compiled from announcements tracked by regional broadcasters, including WMUR and CBS Boston. Conditions can change quickly, so families should check their district’s official website or local news for the latest updates.

Schools and Districts Closed Today

• Fitchburg Public Schools – Closed
• Innovation Academy Charter School – Closed
• Merrimac Heights Academy – Closed
• Assabet Valley Collaborative – Closed
• Leominster School Department – Closed

Colleges and Special Programs

• Mount Wachusett Community College – Delayed opening, opens at 10 a.m.
• NLG Adult Day Program Bedford – Delayed 2 hours
• NLG Adult Day Program Billerica – Delayed 2 hours

Public Schools with 2-Hour Delays

Most districts also canceled morning preschool, kindergarten, or before-care programs where noted.

Massachusetts

• Abby Kelley Foster Charter Public School
• Algonquin Regional High School
• Amesbury Public Schools
• Andover Public Schools
• Ashburnham-Westminster Regional Schools
• Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School
• Athol-Royalston Regional School District
• Auburn Public Schools
• Ayer-Shirley Regional School District
• Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School
• Berlin-Boylston Public Schools
• Billerica Public Schools
• Burlington Public Schools
• Clinton School Department
• Douglas Public Schools
• Dracut Public Schools
• Georgetown Public Schools
• Grafton Public Schools
• Greater Lowell Technical High School
• Harvard Public Schools
• Haverhill Public Schools
• Hopkinton MA Public Schools
• Hudson Public Schools
• Ipswich Public Schools
• Leicester Public Schools
• Littleton Public Schools (no AM preschool)
• Lowell Public Schools
• Lunenburg Public Schools
• Marlborough Public Schools (no AM preschool)
• Masconomet Regional School District
• Maynard Public Schools (no AM preschool)
• Mendon-Upton Regional School District (no AM preschool)
• Methuen Public Schools
• Minuteman Technical High School
• Narragansett Regional School District
• Nashoba Regional School District
• Nashoba Valley Technical High School
• Newburyport Public Schools
• North Andover Public Schools (no AM preschool)
• North Middlesex Regional Schools
• Northboro Public Schools
• Pentucket Regional School District
• Quaboag Regional School District
• Shawsheen Valley Technical High School
• Shrewsbury Public Schools (no AM preschool)
• Southboro Public Schools
• Southbridge Public Schools
• Southern Worcester County Educational Collaborative
• Spencer-East Brookfield Regional Schools (no AM preschool)
• Sutton Public Schools (no AM preschool or before care)
• Tantasqua Regional School Union 61
• Tewksbury Public Schools
• Triton Regional School District
• Tyngsborough Public Schools
• Uxbridge Public Schools
• Valley Collaborative
• Valley Elementary School Tyngsboro
• Webster School Department (no AM preschool)
• West Boylston Public Schools (no AM preschool)
• Westboro Public Schools (no AM preschool)
• Westford Public Schools (no AM preschool)
• Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School
• Winchendon Public Schools
• Worcester Public Schools