Hundreds of white Norfolk public school students who were caught in the crossfire of school desegregation will receive high school diplomas 50 years after they were locked out of their schools.

During Virginia's "Massive Resistance," nearly 10,000 white students were barred from their classes after six public schools closed in September 1959 rather than allow in black students.

While many returned to their classrooms in February 1960, hundreds never did and went on to military service or jobs.

Now, the school division's chief operations officer, Michael Spencer, said 200 to 400 students will receive those lost diplomas this spring.

Norfolk's all-black schools remained open during that period.