Destrehan High School
| Destrehan High School | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Address | |
|
1 Wildcat Lane Destrehan, Louisiana 70047 United States | |
| Coordinates | 29°57′53″N 90°22′58″W / 29.964805°N 90.382693°WCoordinates: 29°57′53″N 90°22′58″W / 29.964805°N 90.382693°W[1] |
| Information | |
| School type | Public |
| School district | St. Charles Parish Public School System |
| CEEB code | 190685 |
| Principal | Stephen Weber |
| Teaching staff | 104 (as of 2009-10)[2] |
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Gender | Co-Ed |
| Enrollment | 1402 (as of 2009-10)[2] |
| Student to teacher ratio | 13.49 (as of 2009-10)[2] |
| Campus type | Suburban |
| Color(s) | Garnet and gray |
| Athletics | Louisiana High School Athletic Association |
| Athletics conference | District 7-5A |
| Nickname | Fighting Wildcats |
| Rival |
Hahnville Tigers East St. John Wildcats Lutcher Bulldogs |
| Website | http://www.stcharles.k12.la.us/destrehan |
Destrehan High School is a public high school located in Destrehan, Louisiana. The St. Charles Parish Public School System school serves all students on the East bank of the Mississippi River in grades 9 through 12.
It serves Destrehan, Montz, New Sarpy, Norco, and St. Rose.[3]
History
Destrehan High School, a public secondary school, is located on the east bank of St. Charles Parish in Destrehan, Louisiana, approximately twenty-five miles west of New Orleans.
In 1923, St. Charles Parish approved a bond issue for school construction. On September 15, 1924, the Destrehan High School facility received 234 pupils in grades one through eleven. Destrehan's first graduating class consisted of Placide Hotard and Eldridge Gervais.[4]
In 1969, then all-black Mary M. Bethune High School was closed, bringing an end to racially segregated schools and forcing the two student bodies to be combined. Elementary-aged children attended schools directed by court guidelines, and high school students were moved to Destrehan High School.
The process of integrating the two student bodies caused several disruptions. On October 7, 1974, students were sent home early after racially motivated fights broke out in the school.[5] Another incident between a bus full of black students and white parents and students resulted in 13-year-old Timothy Weber, who was standing outside with his mother, being shot.[5] Gary Tyler, a black student, was arrested and later convicted of the murder.[5] At the time, the case garnered considerable national attention. Since the conviction, Amnesty International has twice identified the case as a miscarriage of justice.[6] A federal appeals court ruled Tyler did not receive a fair trial, but he was never retried and remained in prison until being released in May 2016. [7]
The original high school located on River Road closed after the completion of the 1974 school year. The new campus located at its current location on Wildcat Lane opened with the start of the 1975 school year.[4]
As of April 2002 the school had 1,500 students.[8]
In 2014, two instructors were arrested for having illegal amorous relations with a 16-year-old student.[9] In early 2016, a third teacher was criminally charged for a similar offense. [10]
Alma Mater
- On sacred lands beyond compare
- Where river echoes fall,
- Stands Destrehan our school so true,
- To thee we pledge our all.
- Our spirit and our loyalty
- For thee will never die.
- Our love will live eternally,
- Till stars fade from the sky.
- Thy learned walls our hearts enthrall,
- Thy teachings do inspire.
- The tender glow our hearts bestow
- Grows steadily to fire.
- And as the years go slowly by
- We ever will be true.
- The years we've spent, so much they've meant
- Though life fades from our view.
Athletics
The Destrehan High School athletic teams, known as the Fighting Wildcats and Lady Cats, compete in the Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA).
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Athletic facilities
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Destrehan Gymnasium
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Fighting Wildcats Baseball Field
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Lady Cats Softball Field
Football
The Destrehan Fighting Wildcats football team competes in District 7-5A in the LHSAA. The Fighting Wildcats play their home games at 5,000-seat Wildcat Stadium. They are coached by Stephen Robicheaux.
State championships
The Fighting Wildcats have won five LHSAA state championships.[11]
The 2007 state championship team finished the season ranked 22nd in the nation[12] and the 2008 state championship team finished the season ranked 18th in the nation.[13] Those teams were part of a 30-game winning streak from 2007 to September 2009.[14][15]
| Year | Winning Team | Losing Team | Location | Class | Record | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1941 | Destrehan | Six-man | |||||
| 1949 | Destrehan | 14 | Dequincy | 6 | 1A | 12-1 | |
| 1973 | Destrehan | 27 | Lutcher | 0 | 3A | 12-0-1 | |
| 1993 | West Monroe | 28 | Destrehan | 21 | Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans | 5A | 12-3 |
| 2007 | Destrehan | 41 | Acadiana | 21 | Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans | 5A | 15-0 |
| 2008 | Destrehan | 14 | West Monroe | 3 | Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans | 5A | 14-0 |
| 2014 | Acadiana | 23 | Destrehan | 7 | Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans | 5A | 14-1 |
District championships
The Fighting Wildcats have won twenty LHSAA district championships.
1949, 1958, 1963, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1981, 1991, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2007, 2008, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
Playoffs
The Fighting Wildcats have made the LHSAA playoffs thirty-eight times.[16]
1941, 1949, 1958, 1963, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
Fighting Wildcats players in the NFL
Baseball
The Destrehan Fighting Wildcats baseball team competes in District 7-5A in the LHSAA. The Fighting Wildcats play their home games at Fighting Wildcats Baseball Field.
State championships
The Fighting Wildcats have won one LHSAA state championship.[17]
| Year | Winning Team | Losing Team | Location | Class | Record | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | Destrehan | Farmerville | 1A | ||||
Band
The Pride of Destrehan Band is the "official" name of the band representing the school.[18]
Notable alumni
- Paul F. Boudreau, assistant coach for the St. Louis Rams and CFL
- Joel Chaisson, district attorney and Louisiana State Senate President
- Burnell Dent, linebacker for the Green Bay Packers and New York Giants
- Shelley Hennig, actress and Miss Teen USA
- Jordan Jefferson, quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Damaris Johnson, wide receiver/punt returner for the Philadelphia Eagles, Houston Texans, New England Patriots and Tennessee Titans
- Jamall Johnson, linebacker for the Cleveland Browns and Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Beau Jones, minor-league pitcher for the Atlanta Braves, Texas Rangers, Oakland Athletics and Miami Marlins
- Damon Mason, defensive back and coach in the Arena Football League
- Rondell Mealey, running back for the Green Bay Packers
- Jerico Nelson, safety for the New Orleans Saints
- Jeremy Parquet, offensive lineman for the Kansas City Chiefs, St. Louis Rams and Pittsburgh Steelers
- Rusty Rebowe, linebacker for the New Orleans Saints
- Tim Rebowe, head football coach at Nicholls State University
- Ed Reed, safety for the Baltimore Ravens, Houston Texans and New York Jets
- Darryl Richard, defensive tackle for the New England Patriots
- Randy Roth, minor-league baseball player for the St. Louis Cardinals
- Mike Scifres, punter for the San Diego Chargers
- Damian Scioneaux, minor-league baseball player for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays
- Gary Smith, Jr., Louisiana state senator
- Josh Victorian, cornerback for the New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers, Houston Texans, Detroit Lions and New York Giants
- Darius Vinnett, cornerback for the St. Louis Rams and Atlanta Falcons
- Devon Walker, safety for Tulane University and New Orleans Saints
See also
References
- ↑ "Destrehan High School". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2009-10-01.
- 1 2 3 "School Detail for Destrehan High School". National Center for Education Statistics.
- ↑ "Destrehan High School" (Archive). AdvancED. p. 4. Retrieved on December 3, 2016.
- 1 2 "DHS History - destrehan.cfm". Retrieved 3 October 2014.
- 1 2 3 http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/05/opinion/05herbert.html
- ↑ "Free Gary Tyler!". Retrieved 3 October 2014.
- ↑ http://eji.org/Gary-Tyler-released-from-Louisiana-prison-after-41-years
- ↑ Kamerick, Megan. "Seven area schools create academies for Freshmen." New Orleans CityBusiness. Monday April 1, 2002. Retrieved on March 17, 2013. Available on LexisNexis. "At Destrehan High School, which has 1,500 students, Assistant Principal Linda Lowry sees a change in attitude among ninth graders. "The kids are so much more relaxed, and we feel like they're ready to go on.""
- ↑ "Police: Destrehan teachers had illegal amorous relations with a student". WGNO. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
- ↑ Goldstein, Sasha (19 January 2016). "Third teacher from same Louisiana school busted for sex with student after female teen fesses up". NY Daily News. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
- ↑ "Louisiana High School Football State Champions". 14-0productions. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
- ↑ "Destrehan 2007 Football Rankings". maxpreps.com. Retrieved 2014-11-24.
- ↑ "Destrehan High School Finishes 18th". maxpreps.com. Retrieved 2014-11-24.
- ↑ "Just enough, just right for Destrehan". Retrieved 3 October 2014.
- ↑ http://www.wwltv.com/sports/stories/wwl091209bhdestrehanloses.1724d6289.html|Thibodaux ends Destrehan's 30-game win streak with a 31-21 win
- ↑ "Louisiana High School Football All-time Playoff List". 14-0productions. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
- ↑ "Louisiana High School Baseball State Champions". 14-0productions. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
- ↑ "The Pride of Destrehan Band". stcharles.k12.la.us. Retrieved 14 September 2016.