Booker T. Washington High School (Shreveport, Louisiana)

Booker T. Washington High School in Shreveport, Louisiana, is a high school for African Americans named after the educational pioneer Booker T. Washington.HistoryIn 1945, educational facilities for blacks were reported to have been in "deplorable" condition. Construction of a new high school was proposed as a solution to the matter. Enrollments were overcrowded at Central High School and the Milam Street Trade School. Hence Booker T. Washington High School was born at a site across from the trade school. Completed in 1949, it was named for the founder of Tuskegee Institute in Tuskegee, Alabama. In 2015, Booker T. Washington was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.The Milam Street Trade School became a junior high school when Booker T. Washington High School opened on January 23, 1950.Booker T. Washington High School was considered a model school for blacks. In the October 1950 issue of Life magazine, the school was highlighted for its innovative architecture, accommodations for traditional academics, and career, technical, and industrial education programs. Built at a cost of $1,514,065 for the physical plant and $500,000 for equipment, Booker T. Washington became one of the most modern schools in Louisiana, having individual lockers for all students, central heating, movable desks, modern laboratories, administrative offices, asphalt tile floors, and fluorescent lighting. A massive renovation took place in 1991, with still another refurbishment in 2014 after a fire damaged the main wing. An additional 4,000 capacity gymnasium complete with health classrooms, a laundry area, as well as dressing rooms for both the home and opposing teams was completed in the fall of 2006.