Dozens, possibly hundreds, of students walked off campus at Pearland High School Thursday as racial tensions build over a noose-hanging incident earlier in the week.

On Tuesday, two students were arrested after they allegedly hung a noose on a riser located in the parking lot of Pearland High School. By Thursday, rumors were flying around the Brazoria County campus that there would be some sort of incident because of the noose hanging.

As a result, the district has beefed up security on campus and the Pearland Police Department also has a stronger presence on the campus.

The racial tensions grew to the point that the high school principal sent messages to the community via an automated phone call.

“Rumors are spreading about the safety of the campus now. Because of the rumors, we have increased security and supervision at PHS,” Principal Michele Staley said in the phone message. “Please know that your child's safety is our highest priority, and we are taking precautions.”

Pearland ISD officials confirmed that several parents had pulled their children out of school, but did not give exact numbers as to how many students were out of class. The Houston Chronicle reported that as many as 200 students skipped school Thursday.

The district said any students who missed class Thursday would receive an unexcused absence.

Incidents of noose hangings and displays at schools and on the job have been reported across the U.S. in recent months after an incident at a high school in Jena, La. almost a year ago.

Roughly 16 percent of the students at Pearland high school are black.