Cy-Fair students face discipline for Nazi salute photo

Image of seniors’ gesture shared on social media

Several Cypress Ranch High School students will be disciplined after raising their arms in an apparent Nazi salute during a senior photo, officials said Thursday.

Photos circulating on social media show more than a dozen students making the gesture during the high school’s panoramic picture day, when seniors gathered along rows of bleachers to pose as the class of 2017.

An anonymous student sent some of the photos to news station KPRC in an email alleging that the students also yelled “Heil Hitler” and “Heil Trump.”

In a letter sent to families, Cypress Ranch High School Principal Bob Hull asked that parents talk to their students about sharing negative social media posts that perpetuate “a false image of Cy Ranch HS.” The school is part of the Cypress-Fairbanks ISD.

“Several of our students made the poor choice of displaying inappropriate gestures during this time,” Hull wrote. “Unfortunately, many of these images have been shared on social media. This is extremely disappointing as this is not an accurate representation of our student body.”

Stephanie Migl, a spokeswoman with the Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, said some of the students pictured are being disciplined according to the district’s Student Code of Conduct.

According to the code, students who use “profane, obscene, indecent remarks or racially or ethnically offensive language and/or gestures directed towards others” can be suspended up to three days, placed on in-school suspension or excluded from events including prom or graduation.

“This principal is using this as a teachable moment for students and staff,” Migl said. “As of right now, we just know they’re addressing it. As far as having an assembly, I’m not sure.”