An Oxon Hill High School senior won’t be allowed to graduate Thursday morning, a judge ruled Wednesday.
The student, 18-year-old Shavonte Petty, is one English class shy of completing all the graduation requirements for Prince George’s County high schools, Superintendent William Hite ruled.
Petty, who suffers from severe allergies, asthma and anemia, argued that she failed to complete the course only because school faculty failed to provide her with the disability assistance she required when she was out of school sick.
Petty’s family has appealed Hite’s ruling to the Maryland State Department of Education, and asked Prince George’s County Circuit Court Judge Sean Wallace to allow her to walk in the school’s graduation ceremony Thursday while the state sorted out the appeal.
Wallace denied her request, saying that there was not enough evidence to suggest that Petty’s appeal would succeed. Petty will be one of 18 students held out of Oxon Hill High School’s graduation ceremony at the Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro Thursday morning.
If her appeal is denied, school officials said she can complete her course requirements during summer school, and they waived the fees associated with the summer English class.
