( CNN ) -- When administrators at White Pass Jr. Sr. High School in Randle , Washington , asked students to dress up as their favorite celebrities for Spirit Week , Mason Mudge and Chandler Krueger did just that . Mudge came as Miss America . And Krueger dressed up as Nicki Minaj . But Principal Gary Stamper reportedly was n't feeling their school spirit . According to CNN affiliate KING5 News , Stamper told the boys to change -- or go home . `` If they really wanted Spirit Week , then why punish somebody for being spirited and all that ? '' Krueger asks . The 10th-graders refused to switch clothing and left school . The next day , many of their classmates skipped American Pride Day and instead came to school dressed as the opposite sex in protest of what had happened . Superintendent Chuck Wyborney told KING5 News that things should have been handled differently with Krueger and Mudge . None of the students on the second day were asked to change . `` I think it 's really awesome that all the kids support me and support the decisions that I made , '' Mudge said . More schools around the country are adopting acceptance policies in support of transgender children and children who do n't conform to gender norms . Wyborney told KING5 News that this was a learning opportunity for both students and staff .
Two male students dressed as Miss America and Nicki Minaj for Spirit Week . The school has also been criticized by the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas over its treatment of transgender students. Superintendent says the situation should have been handled differently .