Kearney Public Schools (KPS) is fighting with a cybersecurity incident that has disrupted its entire technology network, affecting phones, computers, and other digital systems across the district. The KPS cyberattack, which occurred last Friday, has left the district’s communication channels offline as students and staff prepare to return to classrooms on Monday.
In a public update, school confirmed that its technology network was “compromised by a cybersecurity attack,” prompting an ongoing investigation and recovery effort in collaboration with external cybersecurity experts.
Despite the disruption due to Kearney Public Schools cyberattack, the district emphasized that classes will resume as scheduled.
Kearney Public Schools Cyberattack Cripples Network
“Phones and email will not be operational,” the district’s statement read. “If you need to contact the school, please do so in person. Instruction will continue, though digital tools cannot be used until the network is fully restored.”
The district reassured the community that the safety of students, staff, and data remains its highest priority. While details about the type or source of the cyberattack have not yet been disclosed, recovery efforts are expected to take several more days.
The KPS cyberattack incident is part of a pattern of cyberattacks targeting the education sector globally. According to a UK government survey, educational institutions are now more likely to face cyberattacks or data breaches than private businesses. The report revealed that six out of ten secondary schools have suffered an attack in the past year, a figure that rises to eight out of ten for further education colleges and nine out of ten for universities.
By comparison, only four in ten businesses experienced similar breaches during the same period. Even primary schools are facing comparable risks, highlighting how education has become a primary target for cybercriminals.
Adding to the concern, insider threats are also emerging as a major challenge for schools. Another report revealed that more than half of cyber incidents in the education sector stem from insider actions, with students being responsible for 57% of these attacks. Nearly a third of such cases were caused by students guessing weak passwords or finding login credentials written down.
“Teen hackers are not breaking in — they’re logging in,” the report warned, suggesting that curiosity and accessibility are fueling the problem. The National Crime Agency (NCA) has also raised alarms, noting that one in five children between the ages of 10 and 16 has engaged in illegal online activity. The youngest referral to the NCA’s Cyber Choices program — designed to guide young people toward ethical cyber skills — was just seven years old.
Schools Increasingly Targeted by Cybercriminals
The Kearney Public Schools cyberatatck incident follows several other high-profile cyberattacks on educational institutions in North America this year. In July 2025, the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) disclosed an extortion attempt following a major data breach involving education software provider PowerSchool. Similarly, in January, the Harrison County Board of Education in the U.S. suffered a cybersecurity incident involving unauthorized access to its systems, forcing a temporary network shutdown.
As KPS works to restore normal operations, experts are once again highlighting the importance of cybersecurity awareness and strong password hygiene within schools. The incident serves as a reminder that, in today’s digital classrooms, even young students can unintentionally — or deliberately — open the door to major cyber risks.
Kearney Public Schools has promised to keep the community updated as more information becomes available and systems are brought back online.
