C. E. Byrd High School

C.E. Byrd High School
Yellow Jackets
Address
3201 Line Avenue
Shreveport, Louisiana 71104
Information
School type Public
Established 1925
Founder Clifton Ellis Byrd
School board Caddo Parish
Principal Jerry Badgley
Teaching staff 108
Grades 9-12
Enrollment 2269
Student to teacher ratio 18:1
Color(s) Purple and Gold
Nickname Yellow Jackets
Rival

Airline Vikings
Captain Shreve Gators
Evangel Eagles
Fair Park Indians

         
Website

www.cebyrd.com

C. E. Byrd High School
Location 3201 Line Avenue, Shreveport, Louisiana
Coordinates 32°28′49″N 93°44′43″W / 32.48031°N 93.74541°W / 32.48031; -93.74541Coordinates: 32°28′49″N 93°44′43″W / 32.48031°N 93.74541°W / 32.48031; -93.74541
Area 8 acres (3.2 ha)
Built 1924
Built by Stewart McGehee Construction Co.
Architect Edward F. Neild
Architectural style Tudor Revival, Other, Jacobean Revival
NRHP reference # 91000704[1]
Added to NRHP June 10, 1991
C. E. Byrd (c. 1907) as the president of Louisiana Tech University

C. E. Byrd High School, a Blue Ribbon School, is the largest high school in Shreveport, Louisiana. In continuous operation since 1925, Byrd is also the second-largest high school in the state of Louisiana.

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.

1960s -1970s: Desegregation

  • 1967: 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 an 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.

The 8 acres (3.2 ha) area comprising the school building and three other non-contributing properties were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.[1] 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. It's one of the few examples of Jacobean Revival architecture.[2]

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 friendships hold.
Always deep within our hearts: the purple and the gold.

Fight Song
We Are Jackets

We are Jackets, We are Jackets,
Always we fight for victory,
Spirits high, hopes undaunted,
For we are the Jackets, Byrd High Yellow Jackets,
For we are the Jackets, Best of all.
We will never lose our spirit, that is plain to see.
Until the final whistle blows, we will fight for victory.
Fight, Fight, Fight!
This victory will be ours, that is plain to see!
For we are the Jackets, Byrd High Yellow Jackets!
For we are the Jackets–– Best of All!

Mascot
Jack the Jacket
Colors
Purple and Gold
Rival
Captain Shreve High School

Clubs and Organizations [3]

Student media

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

Notable alumni

Elected officials and judiciary


Athletes

References

  1. 1 2 National Park Service (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  2. ↑ National Register Staff (March 1991). "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: C. E. Byrd High School". National Park Service. Retrieved April 11, 2018. With nine photos from 1991.
  3. ↑ "Clubs, Organizations, & Activities". C E Byrd High School. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  4. ↑ classmates.com/people/Betsy-Boze/5981108
  5. ↑ plus.google.com/1060693044677274148
  6. ↑ http a://Facebook.com/people/Betsy-Boze/5981108
  7. ↑ "Jerry Byrd". Osborn Funeral Home. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
  8. ↑ Crockett, Lane (August 7, 1987). "Home base: Karen Carlson back in town". The Times. Louisiana, Shreveport. p. 47. Retrieved July 28, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ J. Cleveland Fruge (1971). "Biographies of Louisiana Judges: Judge William J. Fleniken". Louisiana District Judges Association. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  10. ↑ "C. E. Byrd High School". openbuildings.com. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Courthouse Renamed for Hall" (PDF). Louisiana Supreme Court. Winter 2001. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Judge Charles B. Peatross". The Shreveport Times. January 30, 2015. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  13. ↑ "Harold M. Terry". oralhistory.ws. Archived from the original on September 24, 2014. Retrieved September 19, 2014.

See also

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