Crispus Attucks High School

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Crispus Attucks High School
(U.S. National Register of Historic Places)
Location:	Indianapolis, Indiana
Coordinates:	39°46′58.39″N, 86°10′11.78″W
Built/Founded:	1927
Architect:	Harrison & Turnock; Brown & Mick
Architectural style(s):	Other
Added to NRHP:	January 04, 1989
Reference #:	88003043 ^[1]
Governing body:	Local

Crispus Attucks High School of Indianapolis Public Schools in Indianapolis, Indiana was named for Crispus Attucks (c.1723–March 5, 1770), a black laborer killed at the Boston Massacre whom many regarded as a revolutionary leader. Located northwest of downtown, Crispus Attucks was the only high school in Indianapolis designated specifically for African-Americans, although, blacks were permitted to attend any public school [1]. In 1955, the school's basketball team, led by future professional star and Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson, gained fame by winning the Indiana state championship, becoming the first all-black school in the nation to win a state title. Robertson led Crispus Attucks to another championship in 1956, as it was the first Indiana high school team to complete a season undefeated. Attucks began admitting white students in 1967. In 1981, the school was threatened with closure due to rapidly declining enrollment within IPS. Instead, the school was converted from a high school to a junior high school in 1986, then to a middle school in 1993, and then back to a high school in 2006.

In 2006, Superintendent Eugene White announced the formation of "The Medical Magnet at Crispus Attucks," thus changing the school from a middle school to a medical preparatory 6-12 high school. The change will be made by adding one grade each year.

Crispus Attucks was placed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.