What is happening at Kennedy High?
WCCUSD shut down the high school campus "out of an abundance of caution"after tetrachloroethylene was found to be present.
The clear, non-flammable synthetic liquid chemical was once used for dry cleaning fabrics and is a metal degreaser.
State officials say there is "no immediate" public health risk.
Exposure can cause dizziness, headaches, eye and respiratory irritation and sleepiness. It is considered a potential carcinogen.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Kennedy High School in Richmond has been closed after a potentially dangerous chemical called tetrachloroethylene was found on site.
No staff or students are allowed on campus, WCCUSD said in a statement sent Monday afternoon, explaining that preliminary testing showed traces of the liquid chemical. The district said the state Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) told them that based on the initial testing, there is “no immediate risk” to health and safety.
“At this time, out of an abundance of caution, WCCUSD is making the immediate determination that all staff and students are not allowed to enter the Kennedy High School campus until additional testing is completed,” Superintendent Cheryl Cotton wrote in an email to the community.
Cotton said further testing is needed to verify that it is safe for students and staff to be on campus. The school year is set to begin in about two weeks. Currently the only people who would normally be on campus now are those in certain athletic programs. WCCUSD is looking for alternative places for them to begin conditioning and practice, district officials told Richmondside. The city of Richmond said in a social media post that it is also closing the Richmond Swim Center, the public pool on campus, to be in alignment with the district.
Tetrachloroethylene, also known as PCE, is a manufactured, clear, nonflammable liquid chemical with a sweet, ether-like odor. The chemical was commonly used in dry cleaning (up until about 2023) and is used in metal degreasing. It can also be found in some consumer goods such as water repellants.
Most exposure happens when someone breathes air containing PCE vapor. At high concentrations it can cause dizziness, headaches, sleepiness, eye or respiratory irritation, and changes in mood or coordination, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It’s also considered a potential carcinogen.
The source of the chemical detected beneath Kennedy High has not been confirmed yet to Richmondside. A portion of the campus was demolished in 2025 as part of a $280 million renovation that is set to be completed by early 2029.
WCCUSD spokesperson Liz Sanders told Richmondside, however, that the construction is not the cause of it.
“WCCUSD tested for PCE upon receiving a communication from the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) suggesting that the District do so, and the District immediately moved forward with this testing,” Sanders told Richmondside by email.
Richmond is home to a number of toxic sites, including the former Omo’s Fabric Dry Cleaners, about 1.2 miles from Kennedy, where in the 2000s state investigators found PCE use had contaminated groundwater at the Miraflores housing development, located about 1,000 feet to the southwest. PCE vapors from polluted soil and groundwater can move into buildings, contaminate the indoor air and impact health. The building’s owners were fined more than $100,000 in 2025 after failing to adequately clean up the property.
Cotton said WCCUSD is working with the city of Richmond and other stakeholders to determine what to do if the campus isn’t found to be safe by the start of school, which is Aug. 18.
“We recognize the urgency of this situation and that this is a concerning update as the start of the school year is rapidly approaching,” Cotton said. “We want to assure our community and staff that we will continue operating swiftly, transparently, and with the utmost care for the health and safety of all of our students and staff.”
