Winston-Salem Schools Ban Student Political Performances
The district now prohibits student groups from participating in political rallies after a recent policy violation.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Secondary Education
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The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools district confirmed that a Carver High School drumline performance at a recent political rally violated internal policy. The group participated in the October 17 event using school property, gear, and transportation.
Why it matters
This incident highlights how strict district policies regarding school-sanctioned equipment and branding are applied to off-campus activities. The district is now reviewing its vetting processes to prevent future unauthorized political appearances.
The drumline performed at the No Kings rally on October 17 while wearing school gear and utilizing district-owned instruments and a branded van. The event had been initially cleared by staff under the impression it was a non-partisan get-out-the-vote gathering.
The players
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools
The local public school district responsible for overseeing secondary education and enforcing policy for Carver High School.
Carver High School
A public secondary school in Winston-Salem whose drumline participated in the October 17 event.
Camel City Indivisible
The local organization that sponsored the No Kings rally where the student drumline performed.
The details
The violation occurred because the student group appeared at an event sponsored by Camel City Indivisible while identified as representatives of Carver High School. Because the school band teacher was not present, a parent facilitated the outing, which allowed the group to use school-owned resources for a partisan rally. The district has now established that all future invitations for political appearances will be declined.
Timeline
October 17, 2026: The Carver High School drumline performed at the No Kings rally.
The Home Front
School districts often maintain rigid policies to ensure that public institutions remain neutral during political cycles. These regulations protect school property and branding from being leveraged in partisan contexts.
Families with students in extracurricular groups should verify that school-sanctioned outings are vetted through official district channels. If you are a parent volunteer, consult with school administrators before using school equipment or branded items at any public event.
The takeaway
District policies are designed to clearly separate student activity from partisan events to maintain institutional neutrality. Parents and volunteers should always confirm that any off-campus performance or event is formally sanctioned by the school administration.
Further reading
For more on how local policies shape school activities, visit Secondary Education.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Winston-Salem Journal.
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