A federal court has ruled that two Wisconsin high schools violated the U.S. Constitution by holding graduations at a church.

Brookfield Central and Brookfield East High schools both held graduation services at Elmbrook Church.

A group of students and parents argued that holding the ceremonies at a church violated the separation of church and state.

Monday's 7-3 ruling by the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a previous court decision that the schools did nothing wrong.

The court said students were exposed to religious messages by the giant cross in the church sanctuary and religious pamphlets and hymnals in the pews.