First day of classes for several schools across the Chicago area and northwest Indiana set for Wednesday were canceled by administrators after damaging storms rolled through the day prior.
Many of the schools that canceled their first day on Wednesday were in areas hardest hit by the storms that blew gusts of up to 100 mph, including Portage, Indiana, and Homewood, Illinois.
Both power outages and damage sustained by the strong gusts of wind and heavy downpours were cited by administrators as the reasons they decided to cancel classes and extracurricular activities.
In Portage, Indiana, where the local police chief said the destruction was the worst he’d ever seen from a single storm, classes were cancelled for Wednesday, and administrators said the rest of the week may be impacted too.
“We appreciate your understanding, as the first day of school brings a great deal of anticipation and excitement. However, we must prioritize the safety of our students, staff, and families,” Portage Township Schools said in a statement.
Administrators also said they are continuing to assess the safety of their campus and progress on recovery and will provide additional updates on the status of classes for the rest of the week “once we better understand the extent of the damages across the city and township and have a timeline for recovery efforts.”
Willowcreek Middle School, a Portage Township School, shared similar sentiments of disappointment over the cancellation in a post on social media.
“We know this is not the way any of us hoped to begin our school year, but the safety and well-being of our students, families, and staff will always come first,” Willowcreek Middle School said in the post.
Conditions at in Gary, Indiana, prompted Gary Community School Corporation to also close their campuses on Wednesday.
“Based on the current conditions of several of our school buildings following today’s severe weather, the Gary Community School Corporation will be closed tomorrow, Wednesday, August 12, 2026. We apologize for the inconvenience, thank you for your patience, and please stay safe!” administrators said the announcement.
Valparaiso Community Schools and School Town of Munster also both announced they would cancel classes on Wednesday because of the storms.
“We understand that a delay to the start of school may create challenges for families, and we sincerely appreciate your patience, understanding, and support as we navigate this unexpected situation,” Munster administrators said. “We will provide additional updates, including a revised first day of school, as soon as we have more information.”
Crown Point Community School Corporation also announced they would cancel classes on Wednesday because of the storms and would not have an e-learning day.
“Multiple CPCSC buildings are without power, and several trees are down on our properties or on the roads to access our schools. Based on updates from service providers and emergency agencies, we do not know whether power and access will be restored by tomorrow morning. We also recognize that many families are dealing with storm damage and power outages at home,” administrators said. “We will continue assessing our buildings throughout the day tomorrow and will share additional updates as they become available, including information about whether open houses are rescheduled.”
CPCSC also said they will share more information on if their open houses will be rescheduled and for parents to watch for updates over the next 24 hours.
Schools in Hobart, Indiana, also canceled their first day of classes on Wednesday as authorities assessed damage from the storms, admin said in a post on social media.
Over in Illinois, Homewood-Flossmoor High School also canceled what would have been the first day of class.
“Due to power outages and storm damage, campus is closed tomorrow, Wednesday, August 12th. We will reassess our status and notify you of the remaining days of the week. Thank you and stay safe,” a pop-up on the school’s website says.
All District 206 schools will be closed on Wednesday because of the storms, and Bloom Township High School in Chicago Heights transitioned to an e-learning day, according to their website.
“Due to the severe storms in our area, we will have an e-learning day tomorrow, Wednesday, August 12th. All District 206 schools will be closed. Freshmen will have an assignment to complete at a later date,” a statement on the school’s website said. “School is scheduled to open on Thursday, August 13th. All students will be in attendance.”
National Weather Service crews confirmed at least two tornadoes touched down during the storms, with both leaving damage consistent with EF-1 level twisters.
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