CLINTON, Tenn. (WVLT/AP) -- Two Anderson County High School sophomores have been expelled after they were found to have a hit list that included school administrators and students, according to ACHS Principal Greg Deal.

Deal confirmed to Volunteer TV News that the list included himself, an assistant principal, and eight students.

The Knoxville News Sentinel reported the list was discovered Wednesday when it fell out of a student's satchel. Assistant principal Travis Freeman told the newspaper another student saw it and reported it to school officials.

Deal said the students tried to pass the "hit list" off as a joke.

"We didn't laugh," Deal said.

"You can't afford to laugh these days."

Freeman said the students said some of the names on the list were placed there "to be silly."

But he said other names "were those with whom they were having issues."

Deal says it's not clear how serious the alleged threat was, but that school administrators are taking it seriously.

The two boys are expelled pending a hearing before the school system's disciplinary authority. Deal says the authority could uphold or revoke the students' expulsion.

No criminal charges have been filed.

(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)