| Istrouma High School | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| 3730 Winbourne Ave. Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70805 USA |
|
| Information | |
| Type | Free public |
| School district | East Baton Rouge Parish |
| Principal | Linda Lewis |
| Grades | 9 - 12 |
| Campus type | Urban |
| Color(s) | Burgundy and Gray |
| Mascot | Indians |
| Website | http://istroumahigh.ebrschools.org/ |
Istrouma High School is a public school located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It was founded in 1917, and is located in East Baton Rouge Parish. Its name is a local Indian word meaning "red stick". Red stick is also the English language translation of the French words baton rouge. The area of north Baton Rouge where the school is located is also known as the Istrouma area.
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Istrouma High School began in 1917, in a two room frame building with a faculty of two. In 1921 the school moved to a larger brick building at the corner of Erie Street and Wenonah Street. In 1931 another building was added at the corner of Erie Street and Tecumseh Street. With increasing enrollment, a third (and much larger) building was added in 1940, at the corner of Erie Street and Osceola Street. The school's name and location were proposed to be changed in 1945 to Franklin D. Roosevelt High School.[1] This name change never occurred, but the school did move to its current location on Winbourne Ave. The old school buildings became the home of Istrouma Junior High School, and were later torn down in 2005. Being located in North Baton Rouge, Istrouma High School, was considered for most of its history as the school for the sons and daughters of blue collar plant workers[2] . Its major cross town rival (until 1976) was Baton Rouge High School.
The school faculty is made up of 72 teachers in a wide array of disciplines including courses in sciences, mathematics, language arts, physical education, health, reading, marketing education, music, family & consumer science, technology education, business, sociology, social studies, visual arts, graphic arts, special education courses, foreign language (French & Spanish), ROTC, carpentry, and welding.[3]
Early in his career, Baton Rouge-area State Representative Donald Ray Kennard was an Istrouma faculty member and coach.[4]
The current student body at Istrouma High School is made up mostly of African-American students. The school's yearbook is named the Pow Wow.
Istrouma has a wide array of sports, including football, basketball, cross-country, track. The school's football team was founded in 1935. It won state championships in 1938, 1950, 1951, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1959, 1961, 1962, 1995.[5][6] It is a Class AAAA member of the LHSAA and competes in District 6.[7] Notable past players include 1959 Heisman Trophy Winner and LSU & NFL star, Billy Cannon.[8] Cannon was named as a high school All-American before graduating and going to LSU.[9] LSU's 1965 TSN All-American, George Rice, also graduated from Istrouma.