Highline Public Schools Forced to Cancel Classes Due to Cyberattack

In a significant disruption to education in the Seattle area, Highline Public Schools, located south of Seattle and serving over 17,500 students, had to cancel classes following a massive cyberattack. The attack, discovered over the weekend of September 8-9, 2024, impacted the district’s technology systems, forcing officials to close schools as they worked to isolate critical infrastructure and restore systems safely. This was a sudden disruption, as the district had only just resumed classes a few days earlier, with some students missing their first day of kindergarten​(The Seattle Medium)​(NEWStalk 870).

Nature of the Cyberattack

The district detected “unauthorized activity” within its systems and quickly moved to isolate them, collaborating with cybersecurity experts and federal agencies to assess the damage. Although there was no immediate evidence of personal data theft from students or staff, the attack rendered several vital operations, including transportation, communication, and attendance tracking, inoperable​(The Seattle Medium).

The cyberattack fits a troubling pattern seen across U.S. schools. In recent years, educational institutions have become attractive targets for cybercriminals due to the vast amounts of sensitive data they handle, from student information to financial and health records. Many districts, particularly those with older or underfunded systems, struggle to implement the robust cybersecurity measures needed to fend off these attacks​(NEWStalk 870).

Impact on the School District

This particular attack forced Highline Public Schools to not only cancel classes but also suspend all school-related activities, including athletic events and meetings. The district’s leadership assured families that they were working to restore systems quickly but acknowledged that the scope of the attack required careful handling to avoid further disruptions​(The Seattle Medium).

Broader Implications and Ongoing Trends

The Highline incident is far from isolated. In fact, cyberattacks on K-12 schools have increased sharply over the past several years, with ransomware being a frequent tool of choice. In 2023 alone, multiple high-profile school districts, such as Minneapolis and Los Angeles, suffered significant data breaches that exposed sensitive information and caused weeks of disruption​(

The Seattle Medium)​(NEWStalk 870).

Experts warn that these attacks are often motivated by financial gain, with hackers demanding ransoms in exchange for unlocking seized systems or preventing stolen data from being leaked. The growing frequency of these attacks, coupled with underfunded IT departments, leaves many school districts vulnerable. Highline’s experience highlights the urgent need for more comprehensive cybersecurity defenses across the educational sector.

As the investigation continues, Highline Public Schools is focused on restoring its systems and preventing future breaches. However, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of critical public infrastructure to cyberattacks in today’s increasingly digital world​(The Seattle Medium)​(NEWStalk 870).