Rockville High School will reopen Wednesday after three days of being closed following the report that a student could have swine flu, also known as the H1N1 virus.

The decision follows a new directive from the Centers for Disease Control, which recommended this afternoon that schools not be closed as a result of probable flu cases within the school community, Montgomery County Public Schools reported. The decision was made in consultation with state and county health officials.

The school was originally closed on Friday after county officials learned that an autistic student had a probable case of the H1N1 virus.

"It's the best news I've had in such a long time," Debra S. Munk, principal of Rockville High, said this afternoon when she learned classes would resume. "I'm thrilled."

The announcement also comes after Ulder Tillman, the county's health officer, notified the County Council Tuesday morning of a second Rockville High student coming down with a probable case of the swine flu. Tillman was notified by state health officials of the second Rockville High case at 10:30 p.m. Monday.

The student began exhibiting flu symptoms May 1, Tillman said.

Both students with probable cases of the flu have siblings in the county school system, but the schools have not been identified.

The second student's sibling developed symptoms of swine flu Sunday and was being kept home from school, Tillman said.

Rockville High students took their Advanced Placement (AP) tests at Mark Twain School in Rockville Monday and today. They were spaced six feet apart and were being kept away from the school's general population in a separate wing.

Munk said students will continue to take their AP tests at Mark Twain on Wednesday, but is unsure if students will finish out the week there or at Rockville High.