Evanston Township High School (ETHS) in Illinois has closed its campus for June 8 and June 9, 2026, following a ransomware attack that compromised critical operational systems. The district, which serves approximately 3,600 students, canceled all summer school classes, sports camps, and on-campus activities to address the disruption to its network, internet, and emergency communication infrastructure.
Why is Evanston Township High School closed?
The school district closed its campus because the ransomware attack rendered systems essential for safe operations unavailable. According to Reine Hanna, the district’s director of communications, the incident disrupted network access, internet connectivity, and phone services. As a result, staff were unable to access district Google accounts or internal systems such as eSchool. To maintain security, the district reset all staff Google passwords and instructed most employees to work remotely. The closure affects students, families, and staff who rely on these digital resources for summer programming and daily school administration.
What is the current status of the investigation?
District 202 officials have initiated formal incident response procedures to contain the breach and restore functionality. The district confirmed it has engaged external cyber breach attorneys and cybersecurity forensic experts to evaluate the extent of the incident and determine if any sensitive data was accessed or acquired. In an official statement, the district noted that it is cooperating with the FBI as part of an ongoing investigation. While the school has implemented these security measures, it has not yet provided a timeline for when all systems will be fully operational beyond the two-day closure.
How are students and families affected?
The attack has significantly limited the ability of families and students to access school resources. Online tools and accounts, including the Home Access Center, are currently offline. Because phone systems are down and staff email access is restricted, the district is using its website to provide updates to the community. The district has asked for patience as it works through the recovery process, and further instructions are expected to be released as the situation develops.
Cybersecurity trends in education
The incident at ETHS highlights the increasing vulnerability of educational institutions to cyber threats. Schools are frequent targets for financially motivated criminals due to the high volume of sensitive personal data they store. While ETHS is currently managing its recovery, the incident serves as a reminder of the operational challenges posed by ransomware. Schools often must balance the need for open, accessible digital environments with the stringent security requirements needed to protect against modern cyberattacks, which can force total shutdowns of campus infrastructure.