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High Schoolers Continue To Protest As National Achievement Scores Decline

High Schoolers Continue To Protest As National Achievement Scores Decline

What began as a coordinated “National Shutdown Day” on Friday, January 30 has evolved into something far more consequential than a one-day student protest. Across multiple states, middle and high school students have walked out of class to demonstrate against Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations, turning campuses into staging grounds for political activism — and, in some cases, chaos.

The premise was straightforward: students would leave class in solidarity with cities such as Minneapolis, where ICE enforcement actions have drawn controversy. But the ripple effects have exposed a deeper national debate about education, authority, and the boundaries of civic engagement inside public schools.


Reports indicate that in numerous cities, students left campuses during school hours, sometimes with the encouragement — or at least tacit approval — of faculty and administrators. Critics argue that academic performance, already lagging in many districts, is being further sidelined in favor of activism. Education advocate Corey DeAngelis has asserted that the National Education Association has played a role in encouraging and financially supporting teacher participation in these movements, intensifying scrutiny over the line between instruction and political mobilization.

In several locations, the protests escalated beyond peaceful demonstration. In Arlington, Virginia, an 18-year-old former student was charged after allegedly striking a police cruiser and lying in front of the vehicle during a walkout involving hundreds of students. Officers responding to a call for backup took the individual into custody. In Palm Beach County, Florida, a minor participating in a protest was struck by a vehicle near a shopping plaza and transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. In Asheville, North Carolina, more than 200 students reportedly flooded a four-lane highway after leaving school grounds.


These incidents have intensified concerns among parents and community leaders who question whether schools are adequately safeguarding students. For many families, the issue is not the right to protest but the structure and supervision surrounding it. One Washington state mother, distressed after her seventh-grade daughter was required to participate in a demonstration, withdrew her child from the district, citing safety and educational disruption.

Some administrators have drawn firmer lines. In Spring Township, Pennsylvania, Wilson High School Principal Daniel Weber ordered students who walked out to return immediately, warning of suspension for those who refused. In Prince William County, Virginia, more than 300 students at Woodbridge High School were suspended after leaving campus during a February protest. School officials emphasized that the discipline stemmed from violating campus rules, not from the content of the protest itself. School Board Chairman Dr. Babur Lateef stated that while students are permitted to exercise free speech, schools must enforce safety and conduct policies during instructional hours.


Yet the momentum has not slowed. Another “ICE OUT” demonstration is scheduled in Prince William County, with organizers claiming administrators have been notified and urging participants to remain peaceful.

Written by Mark Stevens - February 20, 2026