A Mississippi high school is facing backlash for changing its class ranking system after it announced that it named two Black female students as valedictorian and salutatorian for the Class of 2021, according to Baller Alert.

The West Point Consolidated School District named Ikeria Washington as valedictorian and Layla Temple as salutatorian on May 24, recognizing their academic achievements.

However, on Thursday, the school wrote that it recognizes students with both the highest Quality Point Average (QPA) and Grade Point Average (GPA). Washington and Temple have the two highest QPAs, while two other students had the highest GPAs, resulting in four students being recognized by the school.

“The two students with the highest QPA are Ikeria Washington and Layla Temple. The students with the highest GPA are Dominic Borgioli and Emma Berry,” the school reportedly wrote in a Facebook post before deleting it. The WPCSD feels it necessary to recognize four seniors at graduation.”

A former West Point High School student tweeted last week about the controversy, saying, “So my high school had a black valedictorian and Salutatorian AND THEY WERE FEMALES !! and now since a white person was mad about it,” she wrote.

Adding,” they decide to call the girls back and let them know that it will now be two valedictorians and salutatorians. This is wrong!”

So my high school had a black valedictorian and salutatorian AND THEY WERE FEMALES ‼️ and now since a white person was mad about it. They decide to call the girls back and let them know that it will now be two valedictorians and salutatorians. This is wrong!

— KE ? (@KierraMarcia) May 27, 2021

The school district issued a statement clarifying their stance, saying that the methods to determine a valedictorian and salutatorian were outlined in the handbook, according to WCBI News.

“We apologize for any confusion and problems this has caused. The school district takes full responsibility for this misunderstanding,” the school district said.