Silsbee Independent School District

Last updated

Silsbee Independent School District
Address
415 Highway 327 West
Silsbee
, Texas , 77656
United States
District information
Type Public
GradesPK–12 [1]
Schools4 [1]
NCES District ID 4840230 [1]
Students and staff
Students2,654 (2023–2024) [1]
Teachers200.92 (on an FTE basis) (2023–2024) [1]
Staff220.35 (on an FTE basis) (2023–2024) [1]
Student–teacher ratio13.21 (2023–2024) [1]
Other information
Website www.silsbeeisd.org OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

Silsbee Independent School District is a public school district based in Silsbee, Texas (USA).

Contents

In 2009, the school district was rated "academically acceptable" by the Texas Education Agency. [2]

Schools

Controversy

Silsbee High School, the school district, superintendent Richard Bain, and then-principal Gaye Lokey have been criticized for expelling a cheerleader from the school's cheerleading squad because of her refusal to cheer for a basketball player who was convicted of assault against her, but was let back on the team because he was not convicted of the rape which was alleged to have attended the incident. [3] Rakheem Jamal Bolton pleaded guilty to misdemeanor simple assault, having been originally indicted on a sexual assault charge. [4] The girl's lawyer says the cheerleaders were supposed to yell, "Two, four, six, eight, ten, come on, Rakheem, put it in." School officials advised the cheerleader "to keep a low profile, such as avoiding the school cafeteria and not taking part in homecoming activities." [5] [6] The victim refused to take the "advice" and sued the school for removing her from the squad. The 5th U.S. Circuit of Appeals court later upheld the school's decision, and ordered the rape victim to pay the District's court costs for her lawsuit. [7]

An online petition was formed to raise money for the rape victim and demand a public apology from Silsbee officials. The decision deeming the case "frivolous" and ordering the rape victim to pay the school's legal bills was later overruled. [8] [9]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Search for Public School Districts – District Detail for SILSBEE ISD". National Center for Education Statistics . Institute of Education Sciences . Retrieved July 15, 2025.
  2. ↑ "2009 Accountability Rating System". Texas Education Agency. Archived from the original on October 25, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Video". CNN. November 8, 2010. Archived from the original on November 7, 2010.
  4. ↑ Ex-Silsbee player pleads guilty to lesser count 14 Sept. 2010
  5. ↑ Caroline Heldman (October 15, 2010). "Cheerleader Required to Cheer for Man Who Assaulted Her : Ms. Magazine Blog". Msmagazine.com. Retrieved June 21, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Court's Ruling in Failure-to-Cheer Case Deserves Boos | Schools". Onpointnews.com. Retrieved June 21, 2012.
  7. ↑ United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (September 12, 2011). "Doe vs. Silsbee" . Retrieved April 3, 2012.
  8. ↑ "Online Campaigns Raise Money for High School Cheerleader Who Refused to Cheer Alleged Attacker". ABC News. Retrieved July 15, 2025.
  9. ↑ Heldman, Caroline (September 14, 2011). "A Mixed Victory in the Texas Cheerleader Rape Case". Ms. Magazine. Retrieved July 15, 2025.
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