Some metro Atlanta schools to close, dismiss early for April solar eclipse

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - The moon is expected to disrupt the sun in a solar eclipse on Monday, April 8 — and in honor of the event, some metro Atlanta schools have also switched up their schedules.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Ready for totality? Here’s a list of cities that will experience total eclipse

Here’s a list of what Atlanta’s five core counties have planned for the eclipse.

Fulton County Schools

Fulton County Schools hasn’t made an official announcement about the eclipse. But documents posted on the district’s website say it paid more than $11,000 to order 101,000 solar eclipse glasses.

DeKalb County School District

The DeKalb County School District announced April 8 will be an independent learning day, saying the eclipse provides a “unique learning opportunity” for students.

Cobb County School District

The Cobb County School District said schools will close early on the day of the eclipse.

Release time is 11:30 a.m. for high schools, 12:30 p.m. for elementary schools and 1:30 p.m. for middle schools.

Gwinnett County Public Schools

Gwinnett County Public Schools said it won’t close. Students, teachers and administrators will be given solar eclipse glasses instead.

Students will also be able to watch the eclipse on a livestream or learn how to view it on a reflective surface. Parents of elementary and middle school students can opt out of the outdoor viewing if they submit paperwork by Friday, March 22.

Clayton County Public Schools

Clayton County Public Schools hasn’t made an announcement about the eclipse.

During the last total North American eclipse in 2017, students and teachers stepped outside to view the spectacle using solar eclipse glasses.

About the eclipse

April 8 will mark the first complete solar eclipse visible from North America since Aug. 21, 2017. The sun will be fully covered in cities like San Antonio, Texas, and Cleveland, Ohio, according to NASA.

Atlanta will see a little more than 80% coverage, starting at 1:45 p.m. and ending at 4:20 p.m. The peak coverage time is 3:04 p.m., where only a sliver of the sun will be visible.

The next total solar eclipse visible to the United States will be on Aug. 23, 2044.

How to watch the eclipse

While we won’t see a total eclipse here in Georgia, we’ll be bringing you coverage all day from across the country. Watch a special on Saturday, April 6 at 7:30 p.m. along with wall-to-wall coverage on ANF+ on April 8 starting at 10 a.m. through the eclipse at 4 p.m.