INDIANAPOLIS -- Citing oppressive heat, Indianapolis Public Schools said students will be dismissed early on Friday, mirroring what the system did on Thursday.

IPS said it will keep students only for a half-day Friday. Dismissal times won't be the same for every school; a precise schedule will be posted on IPS' Web site.

IPS was among several school systems that dismissed students early on Thursday because of temperatures that neared 100 degrees.

IPS dismissed middle school and high school students at noon Thursday, and elementary students left class at about 1:30 p.m.

Also in Indianapolis, Bishop Chatard High School closed at 1:25 p.m. Thursday, and it planned to do the same Friday.

Muncie Community Schools also will dismiss classes early on Friday -- something they also did Wednesday and Thursday. Elementary school students in Muncie's school system will be dismissed at 1 p.m. Middle and high school students will be out at 1:30 p.m.

Numerous after-school athletic events were canceled in several school districts.

About half of IPS' school buildings have air conditioning, but about 40 don't. By 9 a.m. Thursday, the temperature was already above 80 degrees in a classroom at IPS No. 39, which doesn't have air conditioning.

"We have a couple of teachers out today that have heart conditions because they just simply could not do it in this weather," said Linda Burchfield, No. 39 principal.

For IPS schools that don't have air conditioning, prospects of getting it are bleak. A recent outrage over property tax increases in Marion County has put plans for renovations at schools on hold.