Nashua, NH — February 5, 2026
Students from Nashua High School North and Nashua High School South participated in a coordinated walkout during school hours on Wednesday, February 4, protesting federal immigration enforcement policies tied to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The protest, organized by students through social media, took place around midday anddrew students out of classrooms and onto school grounds during instructional time.
District Response:
Prior to the walkout, the Nashua School District issued the following statement, posted publicly on its official social media page. The text below is reproduced verbatim:
“Good morning,
The Nashua School District is aware that some students have indicated plans to participate in a walkout on Wednesday, February 4, at approximately 12:00 p.m., related to concerns about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This activity is not school-sanctioned and is being organized independently by students. The District recognizes that students have First Amendment rights to express their views. At the same time, the District has a responsibility to ensure a safe, orderly learning environment during the school day. Staff members are expected to fulfill their contractual responsibilities and may not participate in student walkouts during instructional time, consistent with the New Hampshire Code of Ethics for Educators. During the instructional day, staff have been directed to:
- Remain in their classrooms
- Continue instruction as scheduled
- Supervise students who remain in class
- Students who choose to leave school grounds without authorization to participate in the
walkout will be treated the same as any student who leaves school without permission and
will be subject to existing attendance and discipline policies.
In preparation for Wednesday, the District is coordinating with the Nashua Police Department to help ensure the safety of students, staff, and the broader school community.
“Our priority is maintaining a safe, respectful, and orderly learning environment for all students while upholding individual rights and responsibilities,” said Superintendent Mario Andrade.Families and community members with questions or concerns are encouraged to contact school administrators directly”
Social Media Posts Show Protest Coordination and Re-Entry Guidance:
Screenshots and photos shared by the protest organizers under the account nhsn_against_i.c.e. show detailed planning instructions distributed to students. These included guidance on wearing warm clothing, accessing protest supplies and signs, coordinating carpools, providing masks for privacy, and supplying first aid kits. One image states that once the protest concluded, students who wished to return to class could do so with administrative assistance. The message reads: “Students planning to go back inside can re-enter through security. School administrators will help people get back Inside.”
Additionally, a GoFundMe account had been created prior to this event in an effort to crowdfund the protest from donors. Raising $640 of their $1,100 budget as of February 5, 2026.
Screenshot from the GoFundMe fundraiser site.
Screenshot from the Instagram account @nhsn_against_i.c.e. shows organizers
providing logistical guidance to students ahead of the February 4 walkout, including clothing recommendations, protest supplies, transportation coordination, masks for privacy, and first aid kits. The post indicates advance planning for a student-led protest conducted during instructional hours.
A separate Instagram post from the same account states that students wishing to return to class after the protest could re-enter through school security with assistance from administrators. The message has prompted questions from parents about how attendance and discipline policies were enforced following the walkout.
Questions About Enforcement and Consistency:
The apparent coordination between students and school administrators on re-entry has prompted calls for clarity on several issues, including whether students who left class during instructional time will face disciplinary action, how absences were recorded, and whether this sets a precedent for future walkouts.
Proficiency and Other Context:
Recent data shows both Nashua high schools have reading proficiency rates near the mid- 50 percent range, while math proficiency remains below 30 percent. The district has also experienced declining enrollment. If students can’t read proficiently or do grade level math, they aren’t ready to solve national policy debates during school hours. Education comes before activism. Otherwise it’s just uninformed noise replacing learning.
Legal Framework for Student Expression:
In Tinker v. Des Moines (1969), the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that students retain free speech rights in school unless the activity causes a material and substantial disruption to school operations.
Peaceful expression → generally protected
Disrupting instruction or safety → not protected
Is there a way to support student voices while prioritizing the preservation of instructional time? Both can happen, just not in the middle of the school day. One solution is that we teach them to use those voices where laws are written and policy is changed, like Congress, rather than losing instructional time on gestures that don’t move legislation.
Looking Ahead:
As parents and taxpayers await clarification from the district, debate continues over how schools should balance civic engagement with academic responsibility.
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