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 conference Louisiana High School Athletic Association District 7-5A
Mascot Wildcats
Rival Hahnville High School
Website http://www.stcharles.k12.la.us/destrehan.cfm

Destrehan High School is a public high school located in Destrehan, Louisiana. The St. Charles Parish school serves all students on the East bank of the Mississippi River in grades 9 through 12.

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.[3]

In 1969, then all-black 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 Oct. 7, 1974, students were sent home early after racially-motivated fights broke out in the school.[4] 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.[4] Gary Tyler, a black student, was arrested and later convicted of the murder.[4] At the time, the case garnered considerable national attention. Since the conviction, Amnesty International has twice identified the case as a miscarriage of justice.[5] A federal appeals court ruled Tyler did not receive a fair trial, but he has never been retried and remains in prison.

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.[3]

As of April 2002 the school had 1,500 students.[6]

In 2014, instructors Shelley Dufresne and Rachel Respess were arrested for having illegal amorous relations with a 16 year old student.[7]

Athletics

The Destrehan High School athletic teams, known as the Fighting Wildcats and Lady Cats, compete in the Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA).

  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Cheerleading
  • Dance team (Desty Darlings)
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Powerlifting

  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Swimming
  • Tennis
  • Track and Field
  • Volleyball
  • Wrestling

Athletic facilities

Football

The Destrehan Fighting Wildcats football team competes in District 7 5-A 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.[8]

The 2007 state championship team finished the season ranked 22nd in the nation[9] and the 2008 state championship team finished the season ranked 18th in the nation.[10] Those teams were part of a 30-game winning streak from 2007 to September 2009.[11][12]

LHSAA State Championship Games
Year Winning Team Losing Team Location Class Record
1941 Destrehan
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 eighteen LHSAA district championships.

1949, 1958, 1963, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1981, 1991, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2007, 2008, 2013, 2014

Playoffs
The Fighting Wildcats have made the LHSAA playoffs thirty-six times.[13]

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

Notable alumni

References

  1. "Destrehan High School". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2009-10-01.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 "School Detail for Destrehan High School". National Center for Education Statistics.
  3. 3.0 3.1 "DHS History - destrehan.cfm". Retrieved 3 October 2014.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/05/opinion/05herbert.html
  5. "Free Gary Tyler!". Retrieved 3 October 2014.
  6. 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.""
  7. "Police: Destrehan teachers had a threesome with a student". WGNO. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
  8. "Louisiana High School Football State Champions". 14-0productions. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
  9. "Destrehan 2007 Football Rankings". maxpreps.com. Retrieved 2014-11-24.
  10. "Destrehan High School Finishes 18th". maxpreps.com. Retrieved 2014-11-24.
  11. "Just enough, just right for Destrehan". Retrieved 3 October 2014.
  12. http://www.wwltv.com/sports/stories/wwl091209bhdestrehanloses.1724d6289.html|Thibodaux ends Destrehan's 30-game win streak with a 31-21 win
  13. "Louisiana High School Football All-time Playoff List". 14-0productions. Retrieved 3 October 2014.

External links