In 1892, C. E. Byrd came to Shreveport as principal of the first public high school, in two rented rooms in the YMCA building at a salary of $70 per month.[4] The early years of the school were segregated for white students. From 1917 until 1950, Central High School was the only public high school for African American students in Shreveport; and Milam Street Trade School (1939–1955) was the vocational school for high school African American students.[5][6]
The school moved to the Soady Building on Crockett Street, with first year enrollment of 70 in 1898.[4] A year later in 1899, the school moved to the Hope Street School, a large three story red brick building.[citation needed] Elementary students occupied the first floor, intermediate the second, and high school the third.[citation needed] In 1910, Shreveport High School was built adjacent to Hope Street.[citation needed] Caddo Parish School Board decides to build two new high schools in 1923. 20-acre (81,000m2) Site purchased from Justin Gras for $110,000 and four adjacent lots in Bon Air Subdivision, from F.R. Chadick for $9,500.[citation needed] Stewart-McGee awarded the building contract for $772,133 in 1924. On October 3, 1924, the cornerstone laid with full Masonic ceremonies including a letter from C. E. Byrd; a boll weevil symbolizing problems of the farmer; a bottle of oil, symbolic of the oil business; an ear of corn representing agriculture; coins representing the financial situation, and a Bible.[citation needed]
Side view of Byrd High School from Kings Highway
Board authorized $40,000 to furnish the building in 1925. Building accepted from the contractor on June 27. Because furniture had not yet arrived, the opening was delayed until October.[citation needed]
Front side view of Byrd High School
1960s–1970s: desegregation
1967: First African-American graduate, Arthur Burton.[citation needed]
1968: As part of an order to desegregate, neighborhood school district boundaries were abolished and students were allowed to select schools under a protocol known as "Freedom of Choice." Courts found this policy did not accomplish desegregation[citation needed]
1969: New districts were created in the summer of 1969 forcing thousands of students to change schools. Faculty from historically black high schools were exchanged with those from historically white high schools and students from Captain Shreve High School returned to Byrd as their neighborhood school.[citation needed]
1970: In an attempt to further desegregate, Valencia High School (now Caddo Magnet High School) was merged with Byrd. Students class schedules were changed at the start of the new semester in order to "mix" the students from the two schools. The Black administrators from Valencia were given minor roles at Byrd.[citation needed]
Tensions were high with student protests. As a result of these protests, police were called in to guard the doors of the school. Students were not allowed to leave the building once they came to school for the day. Senior rings had been ordered the previous year, so each wore their own class rings. While students from both schools participated in the same commencement exercises they wore different colored academic regalia, that represented their schools.
Byrd High subsequently fell victim to "white flight" with many parents sending their children to Jesuit High School (now Loyola), St. Vincent's Academy, or one of several new private schools.[citation needed] Enrollment decreased to the point that Byrd faced possible closure. Byrd returned as a powerhouse by re-inventing itself as a Math and Science magnet school.[citation needed]
The 8 acres (3.2ha) area comprising the school building and three other non-contributing properties were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.[2] The elaborate four story brick structure designed by Edward F. Neild has seen several alterations since its construction in 1924. The structure, however, still retains its original visual impact and is significant in the area of architecture. Byrd remains one of few examples of Jacobean Revival architecture.[7]
Pike Hall, Jr. (c. 1947) (1931–1999), member of Caddo Parish School Board 1964–1970; state appeal court judge 1971–1990, associate justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court 1990–1994[15]
Liffort Hobley (1978-1980), QB, DB, Football Player, at LSU 2 times Defensive MVP at Safety, St. Louis Football Cardinals(1985-1986) and Miami Dolphins (1987-1993)[citation needed]
↑ Cooper, Judith Ann (1982). Residual impairments in children with a history of acquired aphasia (Ph.D. thesis). University of Washington. OCLC8594001.
↑ Bass, Ron (January 28, 2020). "Glassell, Alfred Curry, Jr". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
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