The East Allegheny School District expects to file legal action in Commonwealth Court today to prevent the assignment of Duquesne High School students to the district, Solicitor Daniel Beisler said.

The state Legislature last week gave state Education Secretary Gerald Zahorchak authority to assign the nearly 200 Duquesne High School students to at least two other districts. The state board of control that runs the Duquesne School District earlier voted to close the high school.

Dr. Zahorchak decided to assign 65 percent of the Duquesne students to West Mifflin Area High School and 35 percent to East Allegheny Senior High School, based on the size of each district.

West Mifflin Area officials have said they accepted the secretary's decision.

Duquesne students are scheduled to go to an orientation for both districts at 7 p.m. tomorrow in the Duquesne cafeteria. They will be able to register for a school on Thursday, Friday, Monday and Tuesday. If too many students choose one school, a lottery will take place Aug. 3. School assignments will be mailed the week of Aug. 6.