Poydras High School
Encyclopedia
Poydras High School was a school located on Louisiana Highway 1
in the city of New Roads
, Louisiana
, United States
.
The school came into existence, in the early 19th century, in the form of several public schools in the parish known as "Poydras Schools". They were so named for Julien Poydras, a local planter, statesman, literary figure, and philanthropist, who contributed financially to their creation. At the time, these were the only public schools in Louisiana. These early public schools have caused some academics to refer to Pointe Coupee Parish as "the cradle of Louisiana public education." In 1809, Governor Claiborne wrote "In the Parish of Pointe Coupee provisions have been made for the support of two or more schools, but the other parishes do not seem dissuaded to imitate so worthy an example". In 1811, these public "Poydras Schools" began receiving public funds. In 1829, Poydras founded the first endowed Louisiana College when he bequeathed money for the establishment of a school in New Roads. The school was called Poydras College, and was located three and a half miles south west of New Roads, along False River
. In 1861, the song "Maryland, My Maryland
" was written by James Ryder Randall
, who was at the time employed as a professor at Poydras College. The college closed in 1861 with the coming of the American Civil War
. It reopened in 1873 as Poydras Academy, a Catholic girls' school.
In 1923, due to financial issues, Poydras Academy was taken over by the Pointe Coupee Parish School Board. The school was renamed Poydras High School, and in 1924, a new building was constructed with funds bequeathed to the parish by Julien Poydras
. This Poydras High School building is located at 460 W. Main St., in downtown New Roads. It is currently home to the Pointe Coupee Historical Society & Museum.
It was a high school in the Pointe Coupee Parish Public School system until after the 1980-81 school year, when the high school was closed down. This closure left Rosenwald High School as the only public high school located in New Roads until it was converted to an elementary school in 1991. After being closed as a high school, the old high school building was still home to Poydras Elementary School until the early 1990s.
The school's mascot was the Bulldog.
Louisiana Highway 1
Louisiana Highway 1 is a state highway in Louisiana. At 436.20 miles , it is the longest numbered highway of any class in Louisiana. It runs diagonally across the state, connecting the oil and gas fields near the island of Grand Isle with the northwest corner of the state, north of Shreveport.The...
in the city of New Roads
New Roads, Louisiana
New Roads is a city in and the parish seat of Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana, United States. The center of population of Louisiana is located in New Roads . The population was 4,996 at the 2000 census. The city's ZIP code is 70760...
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
The school came into existence, in the early 19th century, in the form of several public schools in the parish known as "Poydras Schools". They were so named for Julien Poydras, a local planter, statesman, literary figure, and philanthropist, who contributed financially to their creation. At the time, these were the only public schools in Louisiana. These early public schools have caused some academics to refer to Pointe Coupee Parish as "the cradle of Louisiana public education." In 1809, Governor Claiborne wrote "In the Parish of Pointe Coupee provisions have been made for the support of two or more schools, but the other parishes do not seem dissuaded to imitate so worthy an example". In 1811, these public "Poydras Schools" began receiving public funds. In 1829, Poydras founded the first endowed Louisiana College when he bequeathed money for the establishment of a school in New Roads. The school was called Poydras College, and was located three and a half miles south west of New Roads, along False River
False River (Louisiana)
False River is an oxbow lake located in southeastern Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana centered at This lake was once the main channel of the Mississippi River in this area...
. In 1861, the song "Maryland, My Maryland
Maryland, My Maryland
"Maryland, My Maryland" is the official state song of the U.S. state of Maryland. The song is set to the tune of "Lauriger Horatius" and the lyrics are from a nine-stanza poem written by James Ryder Randall...
" was written by James Ryder Randall
James Ryder Randall
James Ryder Randall was an American journalist and poet. He is best remembered as the author of "Maryland, My Maryland".-Biography:Randall was born on January 1, 1839 in Baltimore, Maryland....
, who was at the time employed as a professor at Poydras College. The college closed in 1861 with the coming of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. It reopened in 1873 as Poydras Academy, a Catholic girls' school.
In 1923, due to financial issues, Poydras Academy was taken over by the Pointe Coupee Parish School Board. The school was renamed Poydras High School, and in 1924, a new building was constructed with funds bequeathed to the parish by Julien Poydras
Julien de Lallande Poydras
Julien de Lallande Poydras was a French-American politician who served as Delegate from the Territory of Orleans to the United States House of Representatives....
. This Poydras High School building is located at 460 W. Main St., in downtown New Roads. It is currently home to the Pointe Coupee Historical Society & Museum.
It was a high school in the Pointe Coupee Parish Public School system until after the 1980-81 school year, when the high school was closed down. This closure left Rosenwald High School as the only public high school located in New Roads until it was converted to an elementary school in 1991. After being closed as a high school, the old high school building was still home to Poydras Elementary School until the early 1990s.