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C.e. Byrd High School
3201 Line Avenue, Shreveport, LA, 71104 -  Map
tel: (318)869-2567
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School Overview:
Definition of Terms C.e. Byrd High School
School Level High school
School Type Magnet School
Grades Offered Grades 8 - 12
Parish Caddo Parish, LA
Students & Faculty
Total Students 1996 students
% Male / % Female 45%  /  55%
Total Classroom Teachers 108 teachers
Students by Grade
Grade 8 - 26 students
Grade 9 - 643 students
Grade 10 - 488 students
Grade 11 - 446 students
Grade 12 - 393 students
This School ( LA ) School Average
Teacher : Student Ratio 1:18 1:16
Students by Ethnicity
This School ( LA ) School Average
% American Indian n/a n/a
% Asian 1% 1%
% Hispanic 2% 2%
% Black 44% 50%
% White 52% 44%
% Unknown 1 % 3%
Additional Student Information
This School ( LA ) School Average
% Eligible for Free Lunch 29% 62%
% Eligible for Reduced Lunch 4% 7%
% Migrant Students Enrolled n/a n/a
School Performance:
( LA ) Statewide Testing Performance
School Statewide Performance View Education Department Test Scores
School District:
School District Name Caddo Parish School District
This School's Agency ( LA ) District Average
Number of Schools Managed 74 10
Number of Students Managed 43,810 students 5,371 students
District Total Revenue $376,777,000 $46,945,000
District Expenditure $370,402,000 $47,498,000
District Revenue / Student $8,600 $8,740
District Expenditure / Student $8,455 $8,843
District Graduation Rates 65% 80%
School Notes:
  • C. E. Byrd High School (BHS) is a science and mathematics magnet high school located in Shreveport, Louisiana. C. E. Byrd High School opened in the fall of 1925. The school was named for Clifton Ellis Byrd, who was responsible for creating the first public high school in Shreveport - Shreveport High School, which later became C. E. Byrd High School upon moving to its current location.
  • C. E. Byrd High School is the largest high school in the Shreveport/Bossier City metro area. It is a Blue Ribbon School and is also recognized as having the largest alumni association of any high school in the nation.
  • History: In 1892 Clifton Ellis Byrd came to Shreveport as the principal of the first public high school here — two rented rooms in the YMCA building at a salary of $70 per month. By 1893 enrollment swelled to 70 students and in 1898 the school was moved to the Soady building on Crockett for one year. In 1899 it moved to the new Hope Street school, a large three story red brick building. The elementary students occupied the first floor, intermediate on the second, and high school on the third. In 1899, when the new Hope Street Shreveport High School was built, he became the city superintendent of schools. He remained in this position until 1908 when he was named parish superintendent of schools, a post he held until his death. In 1910, Shreveport High School was built adjacent to Hope Street and the high school moved into this building. Though Professor Byrd left Shreveport High, it remained his "baby". He stayed close to it, setting the standards for the school's curriculum, insisting that to be truly educated one must be familiar with history, math, English, and Latin. While serving as superintendent, he taught geometry, algebra, physics, and chemistry classes at the school. He also worked hard to establish a library at the school.
  • In 1924 work began on the new high school for the eastern part of town. During construction, it was decided to name the school in Byrd's honor since it represented the fulfillment of his dream. On 1925-09-17, the school was dedicated with Professor Byrd delivering the dedicatory address. He said it was the proudest day of his life.
  • Five months later on 1926-02-26, Clifton Ellis Byrd died. His body lay in state in the foyer of the school that bears his name. From there he was buried in Forest Park Cemetery next to his wife of 32 years, Mattie McAfee Byrd.
  • During the 1920s, Shreveport's economy was booming. Construction projects abounded; the Slattery Building, Caddo Parish Courthouse, Market Street Viaduct, Kings Highway Christian Church, St. John's Cathedral, the Strand and the Municipal Auditorium were all built at this time.
  • Concerned about overcrowding at SHS, the Caddo Parish School Board decided to build two new high schools. On 1923-02-23, the site on which Byrd was constructed was purchased from Justin Gras for $110,000. It is approximately 20 acres (80,000 m²). At the same time, the School Board passed a resolution to purchase four additional lots in Bon Air Subdivision, adjacent to the Gras property, from F.R. Chadick for $9,500. On 1924-03-19, Stewart-McGee was the lowest bidder and was awarded the building contract for $772,133. On 1924-10-03, with full Masonic ceremonies, Professor Byrd laid the cornerstone for the new million-dollar high school. Sealed in the cornerstone were a letter from C. E. Byrd; a boll weevil, symbolizing problems of the farmer; a bottle of oil, symbolic of the oil business; an ear of corn, representing agriculture; coins, representing the financial situation, and a Bible.
  • The following year, the School Board authorized Superintendent Byrd to furnish and equip the building. The Board approved $40,000 for the furnishings. The building was accepted from the contractor on 1925-06-27. Because the furniture had not yet arrived, the opening of the school was delayed until October.
  • When Shreveport High School students moved into the new building in October 1925, they transferred all the traditions, curriculum requirements, clubs, organizations, academic and social activities intact Shreveport High Principal, since 1919, Grover C. Koffman and E. L. Albertson, Assistant Principal, moved to Byrd at this time.
  • On the opening day of classes, students gathered in the auditorium and Mr. Koffman welcomed them and alphabetically assigned them to rooms, where they picked up their schedules. Only 9 - 11 grades came to Byrd, eighth graders stayed behind (reference: Glimpses of the City of Byrd, by Ann McLaurin; Byrd Archives. Author, Barbara Hodges).
  • The Shreveport Hi Life, the student newspaper, came to Byrd (it later became the Byrd High Life) as did the Gusher, the yearbook. Featured in the Gusher were the Mardi Gras Courts, clubs, school plays and all the athletic teams. The prophesies of the Senior Class were also dominate in the early yearbooks.
  • The Yellow Jacket mascot was continued from SHS as were the purple and gold colors. The early Byrd Yellow Jackets were Byrd's golden era for athletics, as they dominated football and baseball in the state (reference: Glimpses of the City of Byrd, by Ann McLaurin; Byrd archives. Byrd Gushers. Author Barbara Hodges).
  • Mascot: Jack the Yellow Jacket.
  • Colors: Purple and Gold.
  • Notable alumni: Edward C. Aldridge Jr. (1956), president and CEO of The Aerospace Corporation.
  • John N. Bahcall, astrophysicist known for his work on the solar neutrino problem.
  • Arnaz Battle, (Class of 1998), San Francisco 49ers wide receiver.
  • Charles T. Beaird (1922-2006), Shreveport businessman and philanthropist.
  • Betsy Vogel Boze, Ph.D. (1971), Academic Administrator and CEO Kent State University Stark.
  • Saxby Chambliss, sitting Georgia Republican senator (elected 2002).
  • Eric Johnson (1971), President Pro Tempore, Georgia Senate.
  • James Creswell "Jim" Gardner, I (1940), Shreveport mayor (1954-1958) and state representative (1952-1954).
  • Billy J. Guin, former Shreveport utilities commissioner (1977-1978) and school board member (1964-1970).
  • Gilbert Hetherwick (1970), President and CEO, Sony BMG Masterworks.
  • Tom Jarriel (Class of 1952), ABC News veteran.
  • J. Bennett Johnston, Jr., former Louisiana Democratic senator (1972-1997).
  • Richard D. Murray, (1950), Retired Major General, USAF.
  • Virginia K. Shehee, President/CEO, Kilpatrick Life Insurance Company and Rose-Neath Funeral Homes and Cemeteries, Inc., Virginia K. Shehee Biomedical Research Institute.
  • Arthur W. Sour, Jr. (1924-2000), Shreveport Republican state legislator from 1972-1992.
  • Tom Stagg, U.S. District Court judge in Shreveport.
  • Source: Wikipedia; it is used under the GNU Free Documentation License. You may redistribute it, verbatim or modified, providing that you comply with the terms of the GFDL
  • Add information about this school (e.g., awards, news stories, notable alumni, fun facts)
 
School Zip Code:
About This Zip Code (71104)
School Zip (71104) (LA) State Average
Population (Approximate) 15,271 people 4,372,444 people
% (age 25+) w/College Degree 36% 16%
Population Average Age 31 years old 34.0 years old
Average Household size 2.2 persons 2.4 persons
Median Household Income $30,345 $31,856
Avg. # of Rooms in Household 5.2 rooms 5.1 rooms
Median Age of Housing Structure 56 years old 40 years old
View current housing listings in 71104
% Owning / % Renting 53% / 47% 64% / 36%
School Map:
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  Nearby Schools:
1. Caddo Parish Magnet High School - 1165 students - view location
2. Right Step Academy Of Excellence - 88 students - view location
3. Captain Shreve High School - 1198 students - view location
4. Booker T. Washington High School - 432 students - view location
5. Parkway High School - 1045 students - view location
View all schools in: Shreveport Town, Caddo Parish, Zip 71104 
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Note: Data has been gathered from several government and commercial data sources. School data reflects years 2002-04 statistics (most recent years available). Area and demographic data reflects year 2000 statistics. Public School Review does not ensure the timeliness or accuracy of the information on this site.

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School Reviews:
• Student Review - 01/29/08
Recommended Recommended
Byrd High School is an amazing school. There is an enormous amount of pride and spirit at Byrd. As a student, walking through the hallway gives me a ...more
 
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