Final answer:
The sentence given is a compound-complex sentence, as it includes two independent clauses and one dependent clause.
Step-by-step explanation:
The sentence "Because it was snowing, the school closed early and the students rejoiced" is best classified as a compound-complex sentence. This type of sentence contains at least two independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses. Looking at the provided sentence, "the school closed early" and "the students rejoiced" are the two independent clauses, while "because it was snowing" serves as the dependent clause. Compound-complex sentences are utilized to express multiple ideas within a single sentence, providing a richer context.