Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is investigating an incident at Sherwood High School after senior class t-shirts distributed this week included a combination of letters and numbers that evoked a racial slur. In a letter sent to students, families, and staff, district leaders said the design, which was intended to celebrate the Class of 2026, appeared to resemble the N-word and described the situation as “unacceptable and wrong.”
The letter, signed by MCPS Chief of School Leadership and Improvement Dr. Peter Moran and MCPS Chief of Equity and Organizational Development Dr. Nyah Hamlett, emphasized that hate, bias, and discrimination “have no place in our schools.” The officials apologized for the harm caused to Black students, families, and staff, and said the district is committed to accountability and healing.
It’s common for senior classes to get creative with their merchandise, often replacing letters in the word “SENIORS” with numbers that reflect their graduating year, for example, using “26” to represent the Class of 2026. Similar designs, hashtags, and usage have circulated on social media this year, but the combination of letters and numbers used on the shirt, paired with the font style, has sparked outrage from some members of the school community who say it too closely resembles a racial slur. Others, however, disagree and believe the design was simply meant to highlight the graduating year rather than cause offense.
MCPS has launched a formal investigation into how the shirt design was created, approved, and distributed. The district has asked students to return the shirts and will provide redesigned versions at no cost. The senior class photo will also be retaken to ensure that no image associated with the shirts becomes part of the school’s historical record. A team of counselors and psychologists has been made available to support students and staff impacted by the incident. In addition, the district plans to partner with an outside organization specializing in racial healing to host restorative listening circles for students, staff, and families.
District leaders acknowledged that this incident is not isolated and referenced several past racial incidents at Sherwood, including a rope tied to resemble a noose found on school grounds and racist language published in a yearbook. They noted that these repeated events have caused “cumulative trauma” and said the school must do better to prevent future harm.
MCPS officials said they will examine the systems and culture that allowed the situation to occur and develop a plan of action to rebuild trust within the community. “An apology without action is meaningless,” the letter stated. “This is a moment that demands truth, accountability, and sustained commitment.”
