HAMPTON TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- When students at Hampton High School showed up for classes Wednesday, they arrived in the dark. Electricity to the building was knocked out by high winds overnight that took down power lines.

“We decided the best thing was to continue school. Even with early dismissal, there's no guarantee you can get a hold of all those parents and we didn't want any students to be stranded," said District Superintendent Dr. John Hoover.

He said he got information about the blackout at 6 a.m., which was too late to cancel classes. Hoover said the building had heat and used generators.

"Some of the classrooms were darker than usual. Lighting isn't the same with an emergency generator, but there was enough light to hold classrooms," said Hoover.

But students and upset parents who called Channel 11 said things inside the school were chaotic, with dirty bathrooms and not much learning going on.

Student Geena Mazur used her cell phone to call her mother, who picked up Geena after lunch.

“They have their reasons I’m sure. But if they're in the dark, what can the kids do?" said mother Shirl Ross.

After spending much of the morning in the school, Hoover painted a much different picture.

“All of the restrooms are functioning. We were able to serve lunch," said Hoover.

Hoover also added that at one point Wednesday morning the health department showed up to the school unannounced after getting a complaint. But officials toured the school and said it was safe and sanitary.

Still dozens of students left early, questioning the decision to hold classes in a building without electricity. The district said it came down to a matter of student safety.