Edward Douglas White Catholic High School

History

Edward Douglas White Catholic High School has roots that extend deep into the soil of Bayou Lafourche. Two religious communities, the Sisters of Mount Carmel and the Brothers of the Sacred Heart, came to the Thibodaux area in the 1800's and established Mount Carmel Academy and Thibodaux College. These two schools existed as separate institutions until plans were made for consolidation in the 1960's.

In 1965, Hurricane Betsy severely damaged Mount Carmel Academy and Thibodaux College and forced the new school, which was under construction, to be occupied earlier than planned. Parents, students, faculty, and friends pitched in to make the new building ready for use. During the first year, the school was known as Thibodaux Central Catholic High School.

In the spring of 1966, newly appointed Archbishop Philip M. Hannan announced that the school was to have a new name--Edward Douglas White Catholic High School. This was to honor Lafourche native Edward Douglas White, a former Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court and a devout Catholic.

Since 1965, the school has experienced growth in its student body, with enrollment approaching 800.. The staff includes Brothers of the Sacred Heart and dedicated lay women and men. The curriculum of the school is college preparatory with a core of 20 required credits supplemented with carefully chosen electives. There are honors courses in English, science, mathematics, and social studies. A special program is offered for one period a day to students who have been diagnosed with learning differences by a school-approved diagnostician. A complete religion program is offered, with each student having a full year of religious instruction every year. Additionally, each student is required to furnish a required number of service hours to the community each year.