The high school seniors joined other volunteers with Tree Fresno to plant trees Saturday morning at the Bluff View subdivision in Fresno County.
The five were ordered to attend alternative school after what they called a prank. But Saturday, they and other volunteers learned why trees are important to the area.
Lawyers for the students hoped a judge would force the district to allow the students to go back to their classes this week based on a previous court ruling.
But the district appealed and now, the case is on its way to an appeals court.
Lawyers expect to have a case hearing before a judge sometime next week.
