Students at Juanita High School have voted to keep their mascot, the Rebels.

Students at the Kirkland high school voted on a petition, which sought to change the mascot. In the final vote just under 350 students voted to change the mascot while 680 voted to keep it. In order for the petition to move forward it needed to garner 685 student votes.

Students took a vote on June 7 and absent students were given until the following June 11 to cast their votes.

“We will remain the Rebels. As we move forward next year, we will continue to work on what it really means to be a Rebel and be a part of the Rebel Family,” JHS principal Kelly Clapp said in a press release.

The Rebels mascot, which shows an eagle sitting on a shield in front of crossed swords, came under scrutiny earlier this year after a student petition gained signatures from 10 percent of the student body, qualifying it to be put to a vote.

Those supportive of the change made a Change.org petition, which said the Rebels mascot was racist. Previous iterations of the logo included a feature known as a “stars-and-bars” design, a design feature which was prominent in the Confederate battle flag.

A counter petition to retain the mascot was also formed, which gained support from many alumni.

The original intention of the Rebels mascot, which was approved in the 1970s, was to pay homage to the “revolutionary” education style at the school, marked by short class periods.Equiaspe rfersperem. Iquis

The 1990 Juanita High School yearbook cover featuring the “stars and bars” design in the background. The design is associated with the Confederate flag and was changed in the early 1990s after JHS staff voiced objections to it. Courtesy of Lake Washington School District