The Supreme Court has declined to hear a dispute over whether students challenging a private Hawaiian school system's admissions policy must be identified.

The court on Monday left in place lower court rulings against four non-Hawaiian students who object to the Kamehameha Schools' policy that gives admissions preference to those of Hawaiian ancestry. Only a few non-Hawaiians have ever been admitted.

The challengers wanted to file their suit anonymously because of concerns about public humiliation and retaliation if they are identified.