Tied rope resembling noose found at Montgomery County high school

SANDY SPRING, Md. ( DC News Now ) —  An investigation is underway after a rope resembling a noose was found outside Sherwood High School this week.

The news shocked many in the county, including Montgomery County school board member Brenda Wolff, who said racial incidents have a trickle-down effect that impacts everyone in the community — especially when they’re displayed in outdoor settings.

“I’ve been here for 12 years. Never once had a situation like this go down. The fact that it’s right down the street from my son’s school… concerns me a lot,” said Rico Alvarado, a Montgomery County Public School (MCPS) parent.

According to a letter sent to parents on Monday by Sherwood High School Principal Timothy Britton, MCPS officials questioned three people after a rope shaped like a noose was found draped over a fence surrounding the school’s tennis court.

The rope was found shortly after 9 a.m. while a staff member was supervising a physical education class, the letter stated.

“While our investigation determined that the individuals involved did not intend to communicate a racist or anti-Black message, the impact of such imagery is deeply harmful and cannot be understated,” Britton wrote to parents on Monday. “We recognize how disturbing and upsetting this symbol can be, particularly to our Black community members, and we are treating this matter with the utmost seriousness.”

Though school administrators reported the incident to the police and MCPS’ office of systemwide safety, parents are calling for in-depth discussions about race with students in the classroom to ensure such behavior doesn’t happen again.

“Talk to the kids. Talk to them… that’s all you need to do is talk to the kids,” said Alvarado.

In a second letter sent to parents on Thursday, the school principal followed up with parents to reassure them that he is creating a nurturing environment at the school and acknowledging the severity of the incident.

“A noose is a symbol rooted in the painful and violent history of racism in the United States, specifically directed at Black individuals,” the principal wrote to parents. “These moments challenge us to reaffirm our commitment to fostering a school environment that actively opposes racism and uplifts the voices and experiences of all students, especially those from historically marginalized backgrounds.”

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