Highline Public Schools Close Due to Cybersecurity Incident
On Sunday, September 8, 2024, Highline Public Schools in South King County, Washington, announced the closure of all schools for Monday, September 9, after detecting unauthorized activity on their technology systems. This disruption affects over 17,000 students and halts all school-related activities, including athletics and a scheduled vaccine clinic. The closure comes on the eve of the first day of kindergarten for many students. While central office administrators are still required to report to work, the district emphasizes that student safety is their top priority. The shutdown is necessary as critical systems, such as transportation and attendance records, have been compromised.
The district is collaborating with third-party cybersecurity firms and state and federal authorities to isolate and restore systems. Officials are assessing the extent of the damage and will provide an update by 2:00 p.m. on Monday regarding whether schools will remain closed on Tuesday. Highline's cyber incident follows a troubling trend of attacks on educational institutions, which are particularly vulnerable due to the vast amounts of sensitive data they manage and often inadequate cybersecurity defenses. This attack is part of a broader series of cyber incidents impacting public services in the region, including recent attacks on the Port of Seattle and local libraries.