System is restored after ‘cybersecurity’ intrusion, NC school district says

UPDATE: Jackson County schools officials say classes will be held as scheduled on Dec. 1 now that a technology team has completed work to restore the district’s network. “Please be assured that no JCPS data was compromised. We have taken all necessary steps to prevent a recurrence,” the district reported on Nov. 24.

The original story is below.

The Jackson County Public Schools in western North Carolina was forced to cancel all classes on Tuesday, Nov. 25, due to a “cybersecurity issue,” district officials said in a news release.

“At this time, there is no evidence that any student or staff data was accessed. To ensure full security, we must shut down the entire JCPS network,” officials said.

“During this time, internet, Wi-Fi, phones, and all network services will be unavailable. ... Because of this necessary work, school will be closed for students.”

The district’s Thanksgiving Break for students starts Wednesday and will continue through Friday.

Investigators say the security intrusion was detected over the weekend.

“We know this may cause inconvenience for families, and we appreciate your patience and understanding. Our team is working diligently to confirm that all information remains secure and to restore services as quickly as possible,” the district said.

The school district is home to nine schools and 3,546 students, according to USNews.com.

Jackson County is about a 175-mile drive west from uptown Charlotte.

This story was originally published November 25, 2025 at 9:40 AM with the headline "System is restored after ‘cybersecurity’ intrusion, NC school district says."