Riordan High in San Francisco Cancels Classes Amid TB Outbreak

School orders students to stay home and attend classes online as they complete tuberculosis testing

Jan. 29, 2026 at 9:47pm by Ben Kaplan

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Archbishop Riordan High School in San Francisco has ordered all students and staff to stay home and attend classes online after the San Francisco Department of Public Health confirmed three active tuberculosis cases at the school since November. The school has canceled in-person classes until students and staff complete TB testing and the results are processed.

Why it matters

Tuberculosis is a serious but treatable infectious disease, and outbreaks in schools can pose significant public health risks if not properly contained. This case highlights the challenges schools face in managing infectious disease outbreaks and the importance of swift action to protect student and staff health.

The details

Riordan High announced the temporary shift to online classes on Thursday, two days after the school held a highly anticipated basketball game that drew a sold-out crowd, despite already having started testing students for TB. School officials say they have followed all guidelines from the San Francisco Department of Public Health since becoming aware of the TB cases in November. Students and staff must complete testing before being allowed to return to campus, with hybrid in-person and online classes resuming on February 9 and full in-person classes on February 20 for those who have been tested.

  • In November, an international student on the school's basketball team had an active case of tuberculosis.
  • On January 30, 2026, the San Francisco Department of Public Health confirmed three active TB cases at Riordan High.
  • On January 30, 2026, Riordan High ordered all students and staff to stay home and attend classes online until testing is complete.
  • On February 9, 2026, hybrid in-person and online classes will resume for students who have been tested.
  • On February 20, 2026, full in-person classes will resume for students and staff who have completed testing.

The players

Archbishop Riordan High School

A Catholic high school in San Francisco that has reported three active tuberculosis cases among its students and staff.

San Francisco Department of Public Health

The local public health agency working closely with Riordan High to coordinate screening, contact tracing, and protective measures in response to the TB outbreak.

Tim Reardon

The president of Archbishop Riordan High School.

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What they’re saying

“Tuberculosis is a serious but treatable disease, and in consultation with public health experts, we do not believe a full school closure is either necessary or in the best interest of our students. At the same time, we believe it is prudent to provide additional flexibility during this phase of testing.”

— Tim Reardon, President, Archbishop Riordan High School (Mission Local)

“We have followed all SFDPH guidelines from the first day that we became aware of the TB situation.”

— Tim Reardon, President, Archbishop Riordan High School (Mission Local)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of swift action and coordination between schools and public health authorities to manage infectious disease outbreaks and protect student and staff health, while also balancing the need to minimize disruption to education.