WASHINGTON - A high school brawl in Southeast D.C. sent five people to the hospital Wednesday and now dozens of parents said they are concerned and angry.

There was chaos and pandemonium at Anacostia High School Wednesday afternoon. Fights that started between classes inside spilled out onto the football field as the school was being evacuated.  "There have been fights at a lot of schools... never seen anything quite this bad," said Anacostia High School teacher, Shayna Rudd. 

In the end, three students were stabbed, another was treated for an asthma attack and police detained several students, arresting one of them. Inside the school, the fire department had to put out a fire in a hallway that was deliberately started. 

Assistant Police Chief Diane Groomes of the Metropolitan Police Department (web|news) said the fight was, "...a beef between two groups from two different neighborhoods."

The school violence is a disturbing scene that has also become common at nearby Ballou Senior High School. Because of a school stabbing here last Friday, administrators and city activists met with distraught students and their parents. "Lots of people getting jumped... lot of drama," said 10th grade Ballou Senior High School student Joe Houston.

This year, violence has happened too often, with incidents of arson and fights being reported. On Friday, three female students were arrested and a third was taken to a hospital with stab wounds. "It's like the neighborhood stuff... beef between each other," explained 10th grader Kwanza Hall.

Despite daily security and metal detectors, some parents believe city officials need to focus more attention east of the river. "We need it over here too, it's been a lot of fights, fires... security is not doing what their supposed to do," said parent, Thomasine Barry.

Still, others said it's up to parents to solve the problem.