C. E. Byrd High School

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C.E. Byrd High School
Address
3201 Line Avenue
Shreveport, Louisiana 71104
Information
School type Public
Math/Science Magnet
Established 1925
Founder Clifton Ellis Byrd
School board Caddo Parish
Principal Jerry Badgley
Teaching staff 108
Grades 9-12
Enrollment 2,200
Student to teacher ratio 18:1
Color(s) Purple and Gold
Nickname Yellow Jackets
Rival Captain Shreve High School

         
Website www.cebyrd.com 
 memorabilia site  = www.JacketPride.com
Byrd, C. E., High School
C. E. Byrd High School is located in Louisiana
Location: 3201 Line Ave., Shreveport, Louisiana
Coordinates: 32°28′49″N 93°44′43″W / 32.48028°N 93.74528°W / 32.48028; -93.74528Coordinates: 32°28′49″N 93°44′43″W / 32.48028°N 93.74528°W / 32.48028; -93.74528
Area: 8 acres (3.2 ha)
Built: 1924
Architectural style: Tudor Revival, Other, Jacobean Revival
Governing body: Local
NRHP Reference#: 91000704[1]
Added to NRHP: June 10, 1991

C. E. Byrd High School is a science and mathematics magnet and a Blue Ribbon School. In continuous operation since 1925, Byrd is the largest high school in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Contents

[edit] History

  • 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.
  • 1898: With first year enrollment of 70, the school moved to the Soady building on Crockett Street.
  • 1899: Moved to new Hope Street School, a large three story red brick building. Elementary students occupied the first floor, intermediate the second, and high school the third.
  • 1910: Shreveport High School built adjacent to Hope Street.
  • 1923: Caddo Parish School Board decides to build two new high schools. 20-acre (81,000 m2) Site purchased from Justin Gras for $110,000 and four adjacent lots in Bon Air Subdivision, from F.R. Chadick for $9,500.
  • 1924: Stewart-McGee awarded the building contract for $772,133. On October 3, 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.
Side view of Byrd High School from Kings Highway
  • 1925: Board authorized $40,000 to furnish the building. Building accepted from the contractor on June 27. Because furniture had not yet arrived, the opening was delayed until October.

[edit] 1960's-1970's: Desegregation

  • 1965: First African-American graduate, Arthur Burton.
  • 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
  • 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.

1970: In a bizarre attempt to further desegregate, Valencia 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.

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. 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.

[edit] School spirit

Alma Mater
Byrd we stand to honor thee, Alma Mater true.
Loyal homage we will bring, through the years to you.
Loyalty, honesty, with our friendship hold.
Always deep within our hearts, the purple and the gold.
Fight Song
We Are Jackets
Mascot
Jack the Jacket
Colors
Purple and Gold
Rival
Captain Shreve High School

[edit] Student media

  • Literary magazine: Perspectives
  • Newspaper: High Life
  • TV station: KBYRD
  • Yearbook: Gusher

[edit] Notable alumni

[edit] Elected Officials and Judiciary

[edit] Athletes

[edit] References

  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2010-07-09. http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreg/docs/All_Data.html. 

[edit] External links
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