Will Philly-area schools delay school post Super Bowl? It could matter — if you’re superstitious.
A Philadelphia School District spokesperson said no decision has yet been made about whether a delay will be called.

A number of area school districts have already called delayed openings post Super Bowl.
Gloucester City School District officials said they felt “it’s important to give students and staff the opportunity to enjoy the game with their families, and still attend school and work the next day safely and well-rested.”
Pennsauken schools made the same call. So did Upper Darby — for now. Superintendent Daniel McGarry said the district will have a two-hour delay unless more staff call out, in which case plans may need to change.
And one Philly charter school had already decided to give their staff and students Feb. 10 off — even before the Eagles secured their spot in the big game.
Ball’s in your court, Tony B. Watlington Sr., superintendent of the nation’s eighth-largest school system.
A Philadelphia School District spokesperson said no decision has yet been made about whether a delay will be called.
But Philadelphia teachers have plenty of thoughts.
To Nora Banzhof, a teacher at Olney Elementary School, the choice is clear.
“No delay,” said Banzhof. “I would rather us win the Super Bowl.”
Yes, Banzhof is aware that whether Watlington gives staff and students some time to sleep in post Super Bowl has no provable connection to how the Eagles fare against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.
“But it’s a superstition thing; I don’t want to put the cart before the horse,” said Banzhof, a big Eagles fan. “Some people think it’s crazy, but the proof is right there.”
That is: In 2023, when the Eagles lost to the Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII, the district had a delayed opening the next day. In 2018, when the Birds won Super Bowl LII against the New England Patriots, there was no late start.
Gwen Salamone, a teacher at Comly Elementary, has a different point of view.
“We better have a delay or there won’t be anyone to teach the kids,” said Salamone, a die-hard Birds fan who drove to Frankford and Cottman when the Eagles won the NFC championship and punched their ticket to the Super Bowl.
Salamone knows that shifting school schedules for 117,000 students and tens of thousands of employees is not a simple call. To get state aid, school districts must have at least 180 instructional days. And in Philadelphia, where many students are food insecure, offering breakfast and lunch is important.
“But a delay makes sense,” said Salamone. “With a delay, the day still counts, you feed the kids, and you’ll actually have staff in the building. I can be superstitious, but I’m not crazy about it.”
And then there’s the MaST Charter School network, three Northeast Philadelphia charters.
Feb. 10 was long-planned as a full day off for MaST students and staff because “our board likes to give teachers off a day each month, for mental health, and for a break,” said John Swoyer III, MaST’s CEO. “The day after the Super Bowl is the most called-out day of the year, so it works out both ways. The Eagles getting to the Super Bowl is a bonus.”
But some districts are staying the course.
“As of now, we anticipate a regular school day in Lower Merion on Monday,” district spokesperson Amy Buckman said. “Go Birds!”
For the record: A spokesperson for Kansas City public schools said that the school system hasn’t delayed school for recent Super Bowl appearances, so it does not expect one on Monday. Shain Bergan, the spokesperson, was feeling pretty confident about his team’s chances, though.
“We may call off for Parade Day, though, as our city becomes very congested and makes it difficult for buses, staff, parents, etc., to go about their regular school business,” Bergan said in an email. “It’s also nice to allow parents & children to attend the parade together without having to worry about school.”
The Eagles may have a thing or two to say about that, Kansas City schoolchildren.
In fact, McGarry, the Upper Darby superintendent, is pretty confident himself. He told district staff and families that he believed a two-hour delay “will give everyone enough time to celebrate the Eagles victory, get ready for school, and prepare for the Eagles parade. Once we learn more about the date and time for the Eagles victory parade, we will update you on our decision to open or close school.”
Has your school or district called a delay or a day off for Feb. 10? Reach out to let us know.