Three students were charged and one cited Wednesday after a series of fights broke out during Knightdale High School's new "Smart Lunch," a school system program designed to help students get tutoring during lunchtime.

Lyndon Earl Ore, 16, of Raleigh, and Prentise Ja'Vaughn Wilkins, 17, of Knightdale, were charged with simple affray and disorderly conduct in a fight that touched off several smaller fights in the school cafeteria, said Knightdale Public Safety Director Shawn Brown. Justin Brown, 17, of Knightdale, was cited with disorderly conduct and released to his parents. He is not related to Shawn Brown.

Darren Strawder, 18, of Wendell, was charged with one count of assault on a government official. Brown said Strawder took a swing at him and that Brown sprained his thumb trying to subdue Strawder.

"One of the arrestees got hurt during the initial fight, just minor injuries," said Brown. "I'm not sure specifically what his injuries were. I can only say minor injuries. He did not go to the hospital."

Brown said before the fights, police were circulating among students trying to diffuse conflicts before they broke out, but fights erupted in succession during the arguments.

"I'm not sure what specifically set of the fight, but one fight went to two, into three and it went from there," said Brown. "We saw them fighting and probably more like 400 to 500 kids surrounded where the fight was going on."

Brown said seven Knightdale police officers had been stationed at the school during lunch since the program started last week. By the end of the fighting, at least 40 Knightdale police and Wake County Sheriff's deputies were called to the high school, Brown said.

The Knightdale chief said large numbers of kids gathering at one time is a recipe for trouble.

"We had problems from the get-go," he said. "The first day we ended up escorting somebody out of the school," the chief said.

He said the student wasn't charged, but was disciplined by the school.

Brown said police talked to school officials about their concerns with large groups of students in one place at one time and that the school has suspended the "Smart Lunch" program. He said if it resumed it would be a joint effort between the police, fire department and the school system. He said the number of students gathered broke the fire code, and that students were blocking entrances.

About half of the 23 high schools have smart lunch, said Wake County School spokesman Greg Thomas. He said it was unfortunate that a fight broke out a program that can do so much good.

"A student might need some time to work on a report, there's another student who could seek out a teacher to get some help on a particular concept or something they're learning in class. It offers enrichment to high fliers. All students can benefit from this."

At Knightdale High School during Smart Lunch, students not required to attend the tutorial were able to visit the media center, the gyms to play sports or the weight room. Students were required to eat and leave the cafeteria after 25 minutes.

"It gives some flexibility on how they spend their time." said Thomas. "...And students need to make sure they honor those commitments and attend the areas they say they are going to."