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SAN FRANCISCO – More than 7,500 of the state’s public school buildings may be vulnerable to collapse in a major earthquake, a new study has found. 

The report, which was released by state officials Friday, estimated it could cost the state $4.7 billion to retrofit all the buildings. State officials urged caution, saying it is not known how many buildings actually pose a threat and require seismic upgrades. 

“It forms the foundation for further investigations, onsite visits and strategies for mitigation,” said State Architect Stephan Castellanos, who released the report. “We want to be clear that children are safe in most schools, but to ensure a high level of safety, some may need another look.” 

The report, which did not include data on individual districts or schools, found the majority of the state’s 60,000 school buildings are seismically sound, but 1,229 could have problems because they sit near an active fault. 

The quake-safety report was based on a review of architectural plans for school construction before July 1, 1978, when modern seismic regulations for public schools took effect. 

The report recommends the state immediately evaluate the most vulnerable buildings — those within 1.2 miles of an active fault. The state will need an estimated $873 million to bring those schools up to modern seismic standards.