C.M. Washington High School

C.M. Washington High School was a primary and secondary school for black people in Thibodaux, Louisiana. A part of Lafourche Parish Public Schools, it was the only K-12 school in Lafourche Parish for black people, and it had the first high school program for black people in Thibodaux.[1]

History

Cordelia Matthews Washington established the Negro Corporation School in the early 1900s. She died in 1937, and Washington High School was renamed in her honor circa 1942.[2]

The final school building received its dedication on December 8, 1950. It served grades 1-12. Leola A. Washington was the initial principal of the school's elementary division and Professor Robert M. Harris was the initial principal of the high school division.[1]

In 1968 the school building was re-purposed as South Thibodaux Elementary School due to racial integration.[2] Black students moved to previously all-white high schools: Thibodaux High School, Central Lafourche High School, and South Lafourche High School.

In 2008 members of the C.M. Washington alumni association proposed renaming South Thibodaux Elementary after Cordelia Matthews Washington.[1] Allen Chapel AME Church pastor Rev. Nelson Dan Taylor Sr., also proposed this renaming in 2013.[2]

References
  1. Legendre, Raymond (2008-07-14). "Alumni group seeks to change school's name". Houma Today. Retrieved 2016-12-04. - See image of the historic plaque - See version at The Daily Comet
  2. Urbazewski, Katie (2013-02-22). "Pastor wants Thibodaux school again renamed after its founder". Houma Today. Retrieved 2016-12-04. - See version at The Daily Comet


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