HEDGESVILLE, WV - Four Hedgesville High School students were sent home Thursday for allegedly violating the dress code.  It's something that's not sitting well with their parents, who've called on district administrators to investigate.

Derek Rose says he likes to wear make-up; in fact, he wore eyeliner to school nearly every day last year.

"Lines beside my eyes, red on top and black on the bottom or all red or whatever,” he says.

But when school started this week, Derek was immediately told his eyeliner was out of line.

“I talked with the principal and he told me that young men wearing eyeliner is a symbol of gangs, violence and drug use. So pretty much I felt like I was being labeled a terrorist,” he says.

Derek was told to wash off the make-up, or face being sent home.  Instead, his mom came to the school, to find out what all the fuss was about.

"The principal said he can't be wearing eyeliner like that because it's a distraction,” says Sharon Carpenter-Rose.  "You know, it's eyeliner.  I wear eyeliner.  It doesn't make any sense to me."

In a statement to NBC25, Hedgesville principal Don Dellinger said school policy states certain markings can symbolize satanic worship, witchcraft or gang membership.  He says the make-up worn in this case reflects those kinds of markings, and is inappropriate.

"People don't look at us and think we're the next “una-bomber," says Kathleen Stritcher, who was also sent home.  "They just think 'there's the gothic kid' and keep walking."

Derek's mom says the principal is being sexist because there's no rule against make-up in the school hand-book.

"If that's the way it is, then they have to make everyone take off their make-up, girls and boys, and they need to put it in the book,” she says.

All four students sent home say they plan to continue wearing their eyeliner to school, despite any further punishment they could face.

Carpenter-Rose says the school board told her they can't do much in this case, because the principal has jurisdiction over his school.

Dellinger says he has consulted with other principals and administrators in Berkeley County, and they are all on board with his decision.