A group of special needs students was omitted from their North Carolina high school yearbook, parents say. Krista Zelt Caraway claimed that her two graduating seniors, along with a dozen other students, were left out of the Chapel Hill High School yearbook.
Parents Express Outrage
Caraway wrote on Facebook on Monday: 'No individual photos. No accurate senior recognition. No inclusion within the 'Class of 2026' representation that other students received.' Her son, Luke, has autism, and her daughter, Lexi, is nonverbal. Both are part of the school's adapted curriculum programs.
'My two seniors have overcome enormous adversity to reach this milestone. One is graduating with straight As and Honors classes after years of perseverance and healing,' Caraway added. 'The other survived profound abuse and neglect before coming into our care and is now thriving in community, friendship, safety, and belonging. They deserved to open their yearbook and see themselves reflected alongside their peers.'
Student's Perspective
Luke told The News & Observer that he is 'kind of mad and sad about it' and feels frustrated for his classmates. He said being left out of the yearbook made him feel like an 'extinct animal.' 'Honestly, it feels like [I'm] an extinct animal because my presence is there, I made a difference, but there's no historical record of me,' he said. Luke asked the school to refund the $90 he paid for the yearbook, but he would rather the school give out new copies to all students that include everyone's photos.
School's Response
Chapel Hill High School published an apology on Monday in its weekly message to families, saying it is sorry 'for a clerical error that led to several students not being represented in the yearbook.' The message added: 'We are sorry for any distress we may have caused students and families. We are reviewing our procedures to prevent future situations like this.'
Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School District spokesman Andy Jenks told the newspaper on Tuesday that the students directly affected will receive new yearbooks with their photos included. The school will also give professionally produced insert pages to students who want to add them to their yearbooks. 'In Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, it is our collective responsibility to ensure that all students are seen, valued and included,' Jenks said. 'Chapel Hill High School and our district as a whole recognize the heartbreak and anger that's been felt, and for that we are deeply sorry.'
Chapel Hill High interim Principal Jacqueline Ellis told parents that the omission happened because of 'gaps in our procedures and internal checks.' The high school will evaluate its procedures to 'ensure stronger collaboration and verification processes so that all students are properly included and represented,' Jenks said. The Daily Mail contacted Caraway, Chapel Hill High School and the school district for comment.
