New Jersey’s Flemington-Raritan Schools Disrupted by Cyberattack Amid National Surge

A cyberattack on May 6, 2025, disrupted digital operations across the Flemington-Raritan Regional School District in Flemington, New Jersey, forcing a shutdown of computer systems and impacting standardized testing and internal communications. Superintendent Dr. Kari McGann addressed families in a video message on May 7, confirming that in-school device usage and science assessments for grades 5 and 8 would be suspended to reduce network load. The district is coordinating with the New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell (NJCCIC) and reported no evidence at the time of any compromised personal information.

The district, which serves over 3,000 students across six schools in Hunterdon County, redirected its website to www.frsd.us and is contending with ongoing phone connectivity issues. In the interim, internet access is being limited within schools to support recovery efforts. Dr. McGann assured families that student devices used at home were not affected. Restoration of digital services is underway, with state partners assisting in securing and rebuilding critical systems.

The Flemington-Raritan incident is part of a broader wave of cyberattacks targeting school districts in 2025. Recent disruptions have hit Kalamazoo Public Schools in Michigan, Bartlesville Public Schools in Oklahoma, and the Coweta County School System in Georgia — all experiencing testing delays or infrastructure outages. North Carolina’s Bertie County Schools were targeted by the Qilin ransomware group, highlighting the growing sophistication of attacks against the education sector. These events point to an escalating threat landscape with potentially significant consequences for school operations and student outcomes.

Notably, the Flemington-Raritan district has so far relied primarily on a video update rather than a detailed written statement or press release, a communication strategy that may limit the broader visibility and long-term record of the incident. Without a searchable text summary or FAQ, the video format reduces the ease with which journalists, parents, or policymakers can track the full scope and timeline of the breach. This approach, while offering a personal tone, may also reflect an effort to control public perception, minimize reputational damage, or limit legal exposure while the investigation is ongoing.