Researchers performed a matched case-control study with a total of 397 children and adolescents <18 years to assess the roles which in-person learning, community, and close contact exposure (within 6 feet for ≥15 minutes) play in the transmission of COVID-19. Nasopharyngeal swabs were obtained from outpatient healthcare centers and emergency departments associated with University of Mississippi between September 1 and November 5, 2020. 154 positive case-patients were confirmed by a positive RT-PCR test result for SARS-CoV-2. Cases were frequency matched to controls by age group, sex, and test date interval. Using information obtained from structured surveys, logistic regression models were generated and adjusted for sex, age group, and ethnicity/race. Cases were 3.2 times more likely to have experienced close contact exposure with someone known to have COVID-19 than controls (95% CI 2.0-5.0). Cases were also more likely to have attended gatherings with members outside of their household, including social functions (aOR 2.4, 95% CI 1.1-5.5) and hosting visitors at home (aOR 1.9, 95% CI 1.2-2.9). Notably, in-person school or childcare attendance less than 2 weeks before the SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic test was not associated with a positive test result (aOR 0.8, 95% CI 0.5-1.3).