More than half of North Carolina’s public school students will not have classes on May 16 with more school districts weighing Friday whether to cancel classes due to an exodus of teachers going to a rally planned that day in Raleigh.

Thousands of teachers from across North Carolina are expected to come to Raleigh for the “March For Students and Rally For Respect” to lobby state lawmakers for better pay and working conditions.

Because of all the expected teacher absences, 27 North Carolina school districts have announced they’ll close school on May 16. Franklin County joined the list on Friday. Those districts represent around 800,000 students, or 52 percent of the state’s public school students.

Here are the districts that have announced that May 16 will be a teacher work day. Click on the district names and linked stories to learn more about how each district is handling AP exams, makeup days and other questions related to the closing.

Asheboro City: 4,600 students.

▪ Asheville City: 4,400 students.

▪ Brunswick County: 12,600 students.

▪ Cabarrus County: 32,500 students.

▪ Chapel Hill-Carrboro: 12,300 students.

▪ Charlotte-Mecklenburg: 147,400 students.

If CMS closing for May 16 protest will disrupt your life, here’s the plan to help

▪ Cumberland County: 50,100 students.

▪ Durham County: 33,100 students.

Here’s what Durham parents, students need to know about May 16

▪ Franklin County: 8,200 students.

▪ Granville County: 7,500 students.

▪ Guilford County: 71,700 students.

▪ Hickory Public Schools: 16,200 students.

▪ Iredell-Statesville: 20,400 students.

▪ Johnston County: 36,000 students.

▪ Kannapolis City Schools: 5,300 students.

▪ ​Lexington City Schools: 3,100 students.

▪ Mooresville Grade School District: 6,000 students.

▪ Nash-Rocky Mount: 15,100 students.

▪ New Hanover County: 26,200 students.

▪ Orange County: 7,300 students.

Orange County Schools joins districts canceling classes May 16

▪ Pitt County: 23,500 students.

▪ Rowan-Salisbury: 19,100 students.

▪ ​Thomasville: 2,300 students.

▪ Wake County: 160,100 students.

With school canceled in the Triangle for the NC teacher rally, here are childcare options

▪ Warren County: 2,000 students.

▪ Wayne County: 18,500 students.

▪ Winston Salem-Forsyth: 54,500 students.

Wake County, Charlotte-Mecklenburg, Guilford County, Winston-Salem Forsyth and Cumberland County are the state’s five largest school systems.

At least two Durham charter schools, Central Park School For Children and Research Triangle High School, will also close May 16.

The school closings are forcing families to make alternative childcare plans.

School districts are also arranging meals for at least some of their low-income students who’d go hungry if they were not in school. Schools are also making plans to accommodate students who have exams on May 16.

CMS to close May 16 for planned teachers’ march in Raleigh. Is it trend for N.C.?

School leaders across N.C. brace for mass teacher absences during upcoming protest

JOIN THE MOVEMENT #iBELIEVE