A federal agency has cleared Mt. Lebanon School District of sexual harassment allegations stemming from an explicit "Top 25" list circulated by some students.

The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights concluded that school officials investigated allegations "in a prompt and thorough manner and applied appropriate legal standards in accordance with the Title IX regulations."

The district learned of the findings in a two-page letter from Thomas Moshang III, team leader in the Philadelphia office of the U.S. Department of Education.

A parent whose daughter was on the list complained to federal officials that it "created and perpetuated a sexually hostile environment," the letter said.

The parent also alleged that district administrators did not take swift and appropriate action when they were told about the list.

"OCR finds that there is insufficient factual information to support the allegation that the district failed to implement its sexual harassment procedure in a timely manner. Thus, OCR is closing the allegation," the letter said.

School Superintendent George Wilson yesterday said district officials were "really quite delighted" with the findings. "We take very seriously our responsibility to protect the welfare of our students and to uphold the policies of the district, which we did throughout this investigation.

"As far as the district is concerned the case is closed," Dr. Wilson said. He noted that a student orientation program that deals with sexual harassment would continue, with possible changes stemming from the "Top 25" incident.

The parent, contacted yesterday, said district administrators were not truthful with federal officials who conducted the inquiry.

"I can tell you that there are numerous statements made by the school district in response to the Office for Civil Rights that are false," the parent said.

The parent said the district reported to OCR that a formal complaint was not filed with the district until April 19. The parent filed a complaint with the superintendent April 7.

School board President Joseph Rodella, contacted yesterday, said, "I guess my reaction is a feeling of satisfaction. It's satisfying to be vindicated -- to know that the board and administrators did the proper thing.

"Both sides have to be dealt with properly. Due process was served and I am very proud of the way the administration handled it," Mr. Rodella said. "The entire incident was ugly. The list was mean-spirited. I believe that we, as a community, need to discuss this. We need to deal with this, perhaps through the churches, the PTA and among parents."

The list contained the names and photos of 25 female students at Mt. Lebanon High School. They were ranked and given grades for their faces, breasts and buttocks. Crude and vulgar language was used in references to oral sex, drug use and eating disorders. Remarks were made about one girl's ethnic heritage.

A senior male student was suspended and banned from some school activities. School officials will not identify the student.

In a separate action, a parent of one of the girls on the list has filed a defamation suit in civil court against Doug Stein, 18, who the lawsuit identified as the author of the list. He is the son of Richard and Gina Stein, who is secretary to Mt. Lebanon High School Principal Zeb Jansante. The girl and her father are identified as Jane Doe and John Doe in the court papers.

Earlier, Mt. Lebanon police and the Allegheny County district attorney concluded that no criminal charges were warranted in the case.