A ransomware attack has forced the Oneonta City School District in upstate New York to cancel classes, the latest in a run of cyberattacks disrupting American schools this fall.
District officials initially thought they were dealing with internal technology problems before realizing the network had been breached. Schools were closed to students and staff on Friday and Monday, with students expected back on Tuesday. “We just need time to sort this out, and we’ll be ready to greet our kids back to school on Tuesday,” Superintendent Thomas F. Brindley told The Daily Star. The district has not said what data, if any, was affected, and local, state and federal authorities are reportedly investigating.
In Idaho, the Jerome School District cancelled classes after an attack confirmed over a weekend, with researchers raising concern that attackers could reach building systems such as cameras, door locks and heating controls. In Virginia, Richmond Public Schools took its network offline after ransom notes appeared on staff laptops, Cybernews reported; schools stayed open, and the district has not confirmed claims that data was stolen.
A sector under pressure
Comparitech counted 77 ransomware attacks on education organizations worldwide in the third quarter of 2026, 25 of them confirmed. That is a 54% jump from the previous quarter and faster growth than across all sectors. The United States accounted for 31 attacks, and the median ransom demand was $510,000.
For parents, the practical advice is simple: watch for phishing emails or texts that mention the attack, and be wary of any message asking for student or payment information.
Sources: DysruptionHub, Comparitech via IT Nerd, Cybernews.
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