Parents claim school failed to protect their 6-year-old from sexual assault by classmate

The parents of a 6-year-old boy in North Carolina have filed a lawsuit against his school, alleging that staff failed to protect him from sexual abuse by a classmate, despite being informed of the incidents by both the child and school officials.

The lawsuit, submitted on November 3 in Wake County Superior Court, claims the boy was repeatedly assaulted during the 2023-2024 academic year at Wake Forest Magnet Elementary School. According to the complaint, the assaults occurred in the school bathroom and involved inappropriate touching and other sexual acts.

The child has endured and continues to experience serious emotional and psychological harm, including severe anxiety, mental distress, and diminished quality of life, the legal filing states.

The lawsuit holds the Wake County school system responsible for failing to safeguard students, even after a teacher and the principal were informed of the abuse. It also asserts that the alleged perpetrator may have assaulted other students at the school.

It is believed that the same student who assaulted the plaintiff also targeted other minor students at Wake Forest Magnet Elementary, the lawsuit adds.

The complaint notes that the boy initially reported the abuse to his teacher, who told the other student to stop but took no further steps to prevent ongoing assaults. On April 19, 2024, the boy informed his mother, who then reported the matter to the principal. According to the filing, the principal dismissed the allegations, refused to remove the accused student, and denied the boys request to transfer classes.

The lawsuit does not specify the grades involved, but given the victims age, he was likely in kindergarten or first grade. The family is seeking more than $25,000 in damages from Wake County.

The school district has not yet commented on the lawsuit.

Author: Sophia Brooks