Why does students in high school today have first amendment rights?

High school students have First Amendment rights because the U.S. Supreme Court has recognized that free speech and expression are fundamental rights that extend to minors in educational settings. Landmark cases, such as Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District, established that students do not "shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate." However, these rights can be limited if the speech disrupts the educational process or infringes on the rights of others. Thus, while students enjoy First Amendment protections, they are balanced against the school's responsibility to maintain a conducive learning environment.