Red Hook Seniors Receive Heartbreaking News Following School Fire

Students at Red Hook High School won't be returning to their classrooms this school year.

Red Hook High School Closed for Rest of the Year

In an announcement that many families were hoping to avoid, the Red Hook Central School District has confirmed that Red Hook High School will remain closed through the end of the academic year following the May 29th fire in a school bathroom.

The news is especially disappointing for members of the Class of 2026, who were looking forward to spending their final days of high school with classmates, teachers, and friends before graduation. Instead, their senior year will come to an abrupt end online as district officials continue remediation efforts inside the building.

The district made the announcement on Facebook after officials said the latest round of air quality testing revealed elevated levels of soot and char in several areas of the school. According to the district, five of the 13 locations tested showed above-average contamination levels, making it impossible to safely reopen the building before the scheduled end of classes on June 16.

What Happened?

The closure stems from a fire that broke out inside the high school on the morning of Friday, May 29th. 2026. According to the Red Hook Police Department, the incident began at approximately 10:15 a.m. when the school's resource officer was alerted by a student about a possible fire in a first-floor boys' bathroom. Members of the Red Hook Fire Department quickly responded, located the fire inside the bathroom, and extinguished it before it could spread to other parts of the school.

Fire Intentionally Set?

Following the fire, an investigation determined that the fire was caused by "human intervention," prompting a criminal investigation by police.

That investigation led to the arrest of a 16-year-old Red Hook resident on May 30th, with police charging the juvenile with third-degree arson and first-degree reckless endangerment, both felonies. Because of the suspect's age, additional identifying information was not released.

Seniors Miss Out

School administrators acknowledged that the closure is especially difficult for seniors in the Class of 2026, many of whom were looking forward to spending their final days of high school together on campus.

SEE ALSO: Police: Student Intentionally Set Fire Inside Red Hook High School

Virtual learning will continue through the last day of school, although district officials said there may be rare instances where students will be asked to meet at alternate locations to satisfy specific course requirements. Regents exams scheduled for this week will still be held, but at alternate locations that are currently being finalized. Transportation will be provided for students who need it.

Despite the closure, several major end-of-year events will still move forward. Prom is scheduled to take place on June 13, while the Senior Walk Through and Senior BBQ on June 16 will also continue as planned. District officials are also organizing an end-of-year celebration for students in all grades to provide an opportunity for everyone to gather in person and officially close out the 2025-26 school year.