Philly schools to dismiss early Thursday due to heat

PHILADELPHIA (WTXF) - Philadelphia schools will dismiss students early again Thursday due to excessive heat.

The School District of Philadelphia will dismissed students at noon. All after-school activities, including athletic programs and professional development sessions, are canceled.

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Students were also sent home early from Philadelphia schools for three days last week, with officials saying high temperatures into the evening meant many buildings weren't cooling overnight. Only 27 percent of the district's school buildings have central air conditioning.

Thursday will be the eighth day since the school year began last week, and students have already been dismissed early for five of those days.