Summary: Sanderson is the only high school in WCPSS where students are not allowed to wear cords at their graduation ceremony. Please show your support in signing this petition to reinstate this former tradition, align Sanderson with other WCPSS peers, and allow them to fully celebrate their high school achievements.

Invitation: We specifically invite current and former Sanderson students, parents who have been part of the Sanderson community, and other current or former Sanderson employees who wish to support this cause to sign this petition.

Details:

Each year, thousands of students across the Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) look forward to graduation—a monumental milestone that honors their years of hard work, dedication, and growth. For these students, graduation regalia is more than just an outfit; it is a symbol of their academic and extracurricular achievements, including the cords they have earned.

However, at Sanderson High School, students are currently not permitted to wear their graduation cords during the ceremony. This rule is at odds with the policy of all other high schools* in WCPSS, where students proudly wear cords that signify various accomplishments such as academic honors, extracurricular leadership, community service, and more.

This inconsistency not only undermines the achievements of Sanderson students but also negatively affects their sense of belonging and recognition across our wider community. High school is a time of growth and learning in various fields, and the cords represent this diversity in educational and personal development.

Therefore, we urge the school administration and the WCPSS leadership to allow Sanderson High School students to wear their earned cords during the graduation ceremony. Aligning Sanderson's policy with other schools in the district ensures equity and fairness.

The benefits of this change include fostering school unity, improving students' morale, and most importantly, giving rightful recognition to their hard-earned achievements. Sign this petition to stand with the students of Sanderson High School and call for a change that acknowledges their accomplishments and aligns them with their peers. Let us unite to make their graduation memorable and justly representative of their hard work.

*Based on research completed from 2025 graduation handbooks and 2025 graduation videos posted by WCPSS and individual schools, it appears Sanderson is the ONLY school not allowed to wear cords. I apologized if I have missed a school that also does not allow it. Not 100% of the information is readily accessible.