Students Protest Merger Of 2 Providence High Schools

Students at a Providence high school walked out of class Wednesday to rally against a planned merger.

The protestors from 360 High School marched to the city's public school district headquarters.

At issue is a plan to absorb the school into Juanita Sanchez High School. Both schools are in the same building, but each has their own staff.

The merger would cost 34 of 360 High's staff their jobs. A district spokesperson says Juanita Sanchez High is being redesigned into a life sciences school, and that 360 students may stay or transfer to another school.

Another reason for the merger is that 360 High has been considered by the district as a "chronically underperforming school."

Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)