Cheltenham Hazing Probe: 19 Students Saw Assault, Failed To Report

CHELTENHAM TOWNSHIP, PA — An investigation into a hazing incident — which led to the cancellation of the Cheltenham High School football program last year — has found that 19 students witnessed an assault of a student but did nothing to stop it, with some even recording it, school officials said.

Cheltenham Schools Superintendent Brian W. Scriven provided an update to the Cheltenham school community on Thursday night, stating that 19 students witnessed the Sept. 3, 2025, assault and made no attempts to stop it, while several others participated in it and others filmed it.

Hazing allegations had prompted Scriven to cancel the high school football game and suspend the season late last year.

In his notice to the community, the superintendent said an external investigation found "an overall toxic and negative culture" in the football program, with coaches not properly supervising the locker room and failing to prioritize safety.

He fell short of stating that there was a "pattern of hazing" in the football program.

Despite that, Scriven said the school district will rebuild the football team by hiring new coaches, strengthening its rules on student supervision and incident reporting as well as recruiting players who weren't part of the original assault.

While the investigation has concluded, the superintendent said that other investigations are ongoing, including student-specific Title IX and disciplinary matters, as well as a criminal investigation by the Cheltenham Township Police Department and the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office.

"Having a 2026 season is largely contingent on identifying, hiring, and onboarding the right coaching staff, and on the cooperation of parents/guardians, students, and staff in doing their part to address the recommendations that will strengthen our program," Scriven told parents in his notice. "Those students who were not involved in this situation are especially important to rebuilding the culture of our program. If all of these conditions are met, the district will stand up a football team for the 2026 season."

The district was also recommended to formalize and strengthen student supervision and incident-reporting protocol, and obtaining or creating training materials for students and staff to communicate and exhibit standards of conduct for student-athletes.

Key points from the investigation and Scriven's statements include:

• An external investigation confirmed a "student-on-student" assault in the locker room that was witnessed by nearly 20 students, some of whom participated or filmed it.
• While the investigation found a "toxic and negative culture" in the program, Scriven said it did not "fully substantiate a pattern of hazing" across the entire program.
• The investigation determined the coaching staff failed to supervise the locker room, prioritize student safety, or provide anti-bullying and anti-hazing education.
• The district plans to overhaul the program by implementing the investigation's recommendations, including hiring a new coaching staff and establishing new protocols. The possibility of fielding a team in 2026 is contingent on meeting these conditions and community cooperation.
• Disciplinary action and Title IX matters are ongoing for multiple students, and the Cheltenham Police Department and Montgomery County District Attorney's Office are conducting a separate criminal investigation.
• Scriven publicly apologized for the handling of the situation at a school board meeting where many parents expressed outrage, feeling the entire team was unfairly labeled and that their children's college recruitment prospects were damaged.