Central Catholic High School Shifts to Online Learning After Racial Incident Involving Baseball Team

Central Catholic High School in Portland, Oregon, canceled in-person classes on Monday and Tuesday following an incident involving racial hate speech by a member of the school’s baseball team. The school moved students to online learning although staff worked to address the situation and support affected students.

The incident came to light after the baseball team issued an apology for the use of racial slurs during a pregame cheer. In response, the school and the team forfeited two scheduled games. Local residents reported a noticeably quieter atmosphere at nearby businesses typically frequented by students, including Baby Doll Pizza in Southeast Portland, where staff observed fewer students during the Monday lunch hour.

School administrators stated that the shift to remote learning was intended to give faculty and staff time to respond to students’ needs with care and clarity. An internal review was launched to investigate the incident and determine appropriate next steps. Community reactions were mixed, with some expressing concern over the impact on students and others supporting the decision to allow time for reflection and healing.

The school has not announced a specific date for the resumption of in-person classes, indicating that the timeline depends on the progress of the review and the readiness to restore a safe learning environment.